[Hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for infection. Venezuela]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in different populations at risk for infection.

METHODS

This was a descriptive, transversal study whose variables were evaluated by Pearson s correlation analysis. Different populations were selected: 100 drug users, 47 sex workers, and 50 hemodialysis patients for a total of 197 individuals. The only inclusion criterion was the apparent risk of acquiring this viral infection. The presence of antibodies against virus was examined by ELISA IV (Innotest HCV Ab IV). Reactive samples were then tested using a recombinant assay (INNO-LIA HCV Ab III), both from Innogenetics N. V. (Belgium). The presence of viral RNA was determined in all ELISA and immunoblot-reactive samples by a nested polymerase chain reaction method (HCV-fast of Pharma Gen).

RESULTS

A prevalence of 1% was found in drug users, and absence of infection or previous contact with the virus in sex workers and hemodialysis patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a very low prevalence of infection with hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for acquiring the infection, and considered that this infection is not a public health problem in these populations in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

[Effect of climatic factors on the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in children under 5 years of age in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela]

Diarrhea is one of the most common problem of public health worldwide, specially in developing countries. In Venezuela, this affection must be weekly reported when it occurs in children under five years of age. During June 1993 to May 1995, 379 stool specimens were obtained from children under five years of age with diarrhea admitted in Hospital de Niños of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Control group was conformed by 93 asymptomatic children. The rotavirus RNA was extracted with phenol-chloroform and precipitated with ethanol. Finally, polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis (PAGE), followed by silver staining was employed for rotavirus detection. Our results showed 62 (16.4%) positive cases for rotavirus in symptomatic children and 9 (9.7%) in control group. The highest incidence was showed in the infants under one year of age (21.5%). The electrophoretic analysis revealed only one long electropherotype pattern in studied samples. It was observed a close relationship between the increase of rotavirus cases and the increase of the pluviometric index and a decrease of mean temperature observed during the period of study. Both variables determine the increase or decrease of viral infection in our region. This result shows the importance of the climatic factors in the rotavirus epidemiology.