Hepatitis C: sexual or intrafamilial transmission? Epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus in 24 infected couples

The role of sexual or intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C is controversial. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the non-structural region 5B of the hepatitis C virus (NS5B-HCV). High percentages of homology (mean of 98.3%) were shown between the couples. Twenty (83.3%) of the 24 men but o...

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Published in:	Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 239 - 244
Main Authors:	Cavalheiro, Norma de Paula, De La Rosa, Abel, Elagin, Slava, Tengan, Fátima Mitiko, Araújo, Evaldo Stanislau Affonso de, Barone, Antonio Alci
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01-05-2009 Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT
Subjects:	Adult Aged Female Genotype Hepacivirus - genetics Hepatitis C Hepatitis C - transmission Hepatitis C - virology Humans Male Middle Aged Phylogeny Risk Factors Spouses TROPICAL MEDICINE Viral Nonstructural Proteins - genetics Heterosexual Transmissão sexual Filogenia Intrafamiliar Intrafamilial Sexual transmission Phylogeny Hepatitis C virus Vírus da hepatite C
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Summary:	The role of sexual or intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C is controversial. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on the non-structural region 5B of the hepatitis C virus (NS5B-HCV). High percentages of homology (mean of 98.3%) were shown between the couples. Twenty (83.3%) of the 24 men but only two of the women (8.3%) reported having had sexually transmitted diseases during their lives. The risk factors for HCV acquisition were blood transfusion (10 couples), use of illegal injected drugs (17), use of inhalants (15), acupuncture (5) and tattoos (5). The shared use of personal hygiene items included toothbrushes between six couples (25%), razor blades between 16 (66.7%), nail clippers between 21 (87.5%) and manicure pliers between 14 (58.3%). The high degree of similarity of the hepatitis C virus genome supports the hypothesis of hepatitis C virus transmission between these couples. The shared use of personal hygiene items suggests the possibility of intrafamilial transmission of infection.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0037-8682 1678-9849 1678-9849 0037-8682
DOI:	10.1590/S0037-86822009000300001