The detection of hepatitis C virus in South Hungary

Background: More than 100 million people are infected with hepatitis C viru s (HCV) worldwide. The prevalence of HCV infection varies from country to c ountry and the natural history of hepatitis C infection is not well underst ood. Objectives: The prevalence of anti-HCV positive blood donors in South Hungary was determined. Potential risk factors of HCV transmission were inv estigated and compared to anti-HCV-negative blood donors. Furthermore, the rate of anti-HCV positivity in children who had received one or more blood transfusions prior to the implementation of anti-HCV blood donor screening was evaluated. Study design: A total of 45 719 blood donors and 120 childre n were tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies by second- and third- generation enzyme immunoassays. Positive results were confirmed by a recomb inant immunoblot assay. Data on potential sources of HCV transmission were obtained by interviews. Results: Among blood donors, the rate of confirmed HCV antibody-positives was 0.4% (195 of 45 719 donors). Previous surgery, t ransfusion, more than three pregnancies, and tattoos were significantly cor related with confirmed anti-HCV positivity. Two of 120 children (1.7%) were confirmed anti-HCV positives. In both of them, serum HCV RNA could be dete cted. Conclusions: The prevalence of anti-HCV positive blood donors in Sout h Hungary is low. Nosocomial infections and tattooing were found to be the most important risk factors for transmission of HCV. Because of the low pre valence of anti-HCV positive blood donors, only a small number of children, who received blood transfusions prior to the implementation of anti-HCV bl ood donor screening, are infected with HCV. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.