Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in a prisoner population from Maracaibo, Venezuela
Keywords:
hepatitis C, prevalence, prisoners, Venezuela.
Abstract
Introduction. The high risk behaviors observed in prison centers have favored the transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. The main risk factor to acquire hepatitis C virus infection seems to be the use of intravenous drugs. In Venezuela, the prevalence of the infection in these centers is unknown since studies of the hepatitis C virus there are lacking.Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and the risk factors involved in the transmission in prisoner populations.
Material and methods. A sample of 200 prisoners was studied from Sabaneta Jail, Maracaibo, Venezuela. The ages were between 18-69 years (average ± DS: 31.6±9.9 years). Serum samples were tested by a fourth generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA and a confirmatory assay INNO-LIA. Both kits were from Innogenetic Laboratories N.V. (Belgium). Viral RNA was tested by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR).
Results. The ELISA assay determined a hepatitis C virus prevalence of 5.0% (10/200); 3/200 (1.5%) individuals were positive by both INNO-LIA and RT-PCR tests.
Conclusions. The observed prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in this population was very low, suggesting a low circulation of the virus in this environment and a low level of associated risk behaviors.
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References
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18. Verneuil L, Vidal JS, Ze BR, Vabret A, Petitjean J, Leclercq R, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of the whole spectrum of sexually transmitted diseases in male incoming prisoners in France. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009;28:409-13.
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21. Sáiz de la Hoya P, Bedia M, Murcia J, Cebria J, Sánchez-PJ, Portilla J. Predictive markers of HIV and HCV infection and co-infection among inmates in a Spanish prison. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2005;23:53-7.
22. Pontali E, Ferrari F. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus co-infections in prisoners infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Int J Prison Health. 2008;4:77-82.
23. Miller ER, Bi P, Ryan P. Hepatitis C virus infection in South Australian prisoners: seroprevalence, seroconversion and risk factors. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13:201-8.
24. Poulin C, Alary M, Lambert G, Godin G, Landry S, Gagnon H, et al. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infection among inmates of Quebec provincial prisons. CMAJ. 2007;177:252-6.
25. Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sablon E, Martínez-García S, Estrada-Martínez S. Hepatitis virus and HIV infections in inmates of a state correctional facility in Mexico. Epidemiol Infect. 2005;133:679-85.
26. Hennessey KA, Kim AA, Griffin V, Collins NT, Weinbaum CM, Sabin K. Prevalence of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and co-infection with HIV in three jails: a case for viral hepatitis prevention in jails in the United States. J Urban Health. 2009;86:93-105.
27. Adjel AA, Armah HB, Gbagbo F, Ampofo WK, Quaye IKE, Hesse IF, et al. Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: A national multicentre study. J Med Microbiol. 2007;56:391-7.
28. Adjei AA, Armah HB, Gbagbo F, Ampofo WK, Boamah I, Ady-Gyamfi C, et al. Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: a national multicenter study. BMC Infect Dis. 2008;7:8-33.
29. Calzavara L, Ramuscak N, Burchel N, Swantee C, Myers T, Ford P, et al. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among inmates of Ontario remand facilities. CMAJ. 2007;177:257-61.
30. Horne JA, Clements AJ, Drennan P, Stein K, Cramp ME. Screening for hepatitis C virus in the Dartmoor prison population: an observational study. J Public Health. 2004;26:372-5.
31. Fialho M, Messias M, Page-Shafer L, Schmalb M, Pedral-Sampaio D, Ramos N, et al. Prevalence and risk of blood-borne and sexually transmitted viral infections in incarcerated youth in Salvador, Brazil: opportunity and obligation for intervention. AIDS. 2008;12:S17-24.
32. Aguilar M, Cosson C, Loureiro C, Devesa M, Martínez J, Villegas L, et al. Prevalence of infection with hepatitis C virus in Venezuela, as assessed with an immuno-assay based on synthetic peptides. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2001;95:187-95.
33. Monsalve-Castillo F, Gómez-Gamboa L, Albillos A, Álvarez-Mon M, Costa-León L, Araujo Soto M, et al. Hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for infection. Venezuela.Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2007;99:315-9.
34. Arteaga VM, Blitz DL, Echeverría JM, León P, Weir MJ, Diez EM, et al. Hepatitis C in hemophilic patients from Maracaibo-Venezuela.Invest Clin. 1993;34:113-8.
35. Pujol FH, Ponce JG, Lema M, Capriles F, Devesa M, Sirit F, et al. High incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in units with high prevalence. J Clin Microbiol. 1996;34:1633-6.
36. Pujol FH, Loureiro C. Replacement of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b by genotype 2 over a 10-year period in Venezuela. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2007;41:518-20.
37. Schmunis GA, Cruz JR. Safety of the blood supply in Latin America. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005;18:12-29.
38. Garassini M. Hepatitis viral C. Gen. 1993;47:257-73.
39. Cova J, Rangel A, Montes H. Anticuerpos anti HCV en insuficientes renales crónicos. Gen. 1996;50:16-21.
40. Meléndez I. Situación actual de las cárceles en Venezuela. Fecha de consulta mayo de 2009]. Disponible en: http://wwwidaniamelendezfigueredo.blogspot.com/
41. Monsalve-Castillo F, Chacín-Bonilla L, Atencio RJ, Espinoza LP, Costa-León L, Echevarria JM. Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2007;102:107-10.
2. Allain JP, Stramer SL, Carneiro-Proietti AB, Martins ML, Lopes da Silva SN, Ribeiro M, et al. Transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases. Biologicals. 2009;37:71-7.
3. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). Hepatitis C virus transmission at an outpatient hemodialysis unit-New York, 2001-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58:189-94.
4. Sharifi-Mood B, Eshghi P, Sanei-Moghaddam E, Hashemi M. Hepatitis C and C virus infections in patients with hemophilia in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Saudi Med J. 2007;10:1516-9.
5. Grebely J, DeVlaming S, Duncan F, Viljoen M, Conway B. Current approaches to HCV infection in current and former injection drug user. J Addict Dis. 2008;27:25-35.
6. Babudieri S, Longo B, Sarmati L, Starnini G, Dori L, Suligoi B, et al. Correlates of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections in a prison inmate population: results from a multicentre study in Italy. J Med Virol. 2005;76:311-7.
7. Vescio MF, Longo B, Babudieri S, Starnini G, Carbonara S, Rezza G, et al. Correlates of hepatitis C virus seropositivity in prison inmates; a meta-analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008;62:305-13.
8. Macias J, Palacios RB, Claro E, Vargas J, Vergara S, Mira JA, et al. High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among noninjecting drug users: association with sharing the inhalation implements of crack. Liver Int. 2008;28;781-6.
9. Fischer B, Powis J, Firestone CM, Rudzinski K, Rehm J. Hepatitis C virus transmission among oral crack users: viral detection on crack paraphernalia. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008;20:29-32.
10. Caraballo De J, Toro DH, Rodríguez-Pérez F, Ruiz H, Ruiz H, Dueño MI, et al. Sexual activity as a risk factor for hepatitis C in Puerto Rico. Bol Asoc Med P R. 2008;100:15-20.
11. Cavalheiro NP. Sexual transmission of hepatitis C. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2007;49:271-7.
12. Alavian SM, Jafari K, Yazdi N. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and its related risk factors in drug abuser prisoners in Hamedan-Iran. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11:4085-9.
13. Guimarães T, Granato C, Varella D, Ferraz M, Castelo A, Kallas E. High prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a Brazilian prison: Identification of risk factors for infection. Braz J Infect Dis. 2001;5:111-8.
14. Burattini M, Massad E, Rozman M, Azevedo R, Carvalho H. Correlation between HIV and HCV in Brazilian prisoners: evidence for parenteral transmission inside prison. Rev Saude Publica. 2000;34:431-6.
15. Martin R, Gold F, Murphy W, Remple V, Berkowits J, Money D. Drug use and risk of blood borne infections: a survey of female prisoners in British Columbia. Can J Public Health. 2005;96:97-101.
16. Zamani S, Ichikawa S, Nassirimanesh B, Vairian M, Ichikawa K, Gouya MM. Prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in Theran. Int J Drug Policy. 2007;18:359-63.
17. Mohtasham Amiri Z, Resvani M, Jafari Shakib R, Jafari Shakib A. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors of drug using prisoners in Guilan province. East Mediterr Health J. 2007;13:250-6.
18. Verneuil L, Vidal JS, Ze BR, Vabret A, Petitjean J, Leclercq R, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of the whole spectrum of sexually transmitted diseases in male incoming prisoners in France. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009;28:409-13.
19. Macalino GE, Vlahov D, Sanforf-Colby S, Patel S, Sabin K, Salas C, et al. Prevalence and incidence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections among males in Rhode Island prisons. Am J Public Health. 2004;94:1218-23.
20. Murcia J, Portilla J, Bedia M, Palazón JM, Sánchez-Payá J, de la Hoya PS, et al. Infección crónica por el virus de la hepatitis C y enfermedad hepática asociada en una prisión española. Enf Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2009;27:206-12.
21. Sáiz de la Hoya P, Bedia M, Murcia J, Cebria J, Sánchez-PJ, Portilla J. Predictive markers of HIV and HCV infection and co-infection among inmates in a Spanish prison. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2005;23:53-7.
22. Pontali E, Ferrari F. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus co-infections in prisoners infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Int J Prison Health. 2008;4:77-82.
23. Miller ER, Bi P, Ryan P. Hepatitis C virus infection in South Australian prisoners: seroprevalence, seroconversion and risk factors. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13:201-8.
24. Poulin C, Alary M, Lambert G, Godin G, Landry S, Gagnon H, et al. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infection among inmates of Quebec provincial prisons. CMAJ. 2007;177:252-6.
25. Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sablon E, Martínez-García S, Estrada-Martínez S. Hepatitis virus and HIV infections in inmates of a state correctional facility in Mexico. Epidemiol Infect. 2005;133:679-85.
26. Hennessey KA, Kim AA, Griffin V, Collins NT, Weinbaum CM, Sabin K. Prevalence of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and co-infection with HIV in three jails: a case for viral hepatitis prevention in jails in the United States. J Urban Health. 2009;86:93-105.
27. Adjel AA, Armah HB, Gbagbo F, Ampofo WK, Quaye IKE, Hesse IF, et al. Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: A national multicentre study. J Med Microbiol. 2007;56:391-7.
28. Adjei AA, Armah HB, Gbagbo F, Ampofo WK, Boamah I, Ady-Gyamfi C, et al. Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: a national multicenter study. BMC Infect Dis. 2008;7:8-33.
29. Calzavara L, Ramuscak N, Burchel N, Swantee C, Myers T, Ford P, et al. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among inmates of Ontario remand facilities. CMAJ. 2007;177:257-61.
30. Horne JA, Clements AJ, Drennan P, Stein K, Cramp ME. Screening for hepatitis C virus in the Dartmoor prison population: an observational study. J Public Health. 2004;26:372-5.
31. Fialho M, Messias M, Page-Shafer L, Schmalb M, Pedral-Sampaio D, Ramos N, et al. Prevalence and risk of blood-borne and sexually transmitted viral infections in incarcerated youth in Salvador, Brazil: opportunity and obligation for intervention. AIDS. 2008;12:S17-24.
32. Aguilar M, Cosson C, Loureiro C, Devesa M, Martínez J, Villegas L, et al. Prevalence of infection with hepatitis C virus in Venezuela, as assessed with an immuno-assay based on synthetic peptides. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2001;95:187-95.
33. Monsalve-Castillo F, Gómez-Gamboa L, Albillos A, Álvarez-Mon M, Costa-León L, Araujo Soto M, et al. Hepatitis C virus in populations at risk for infection. Venezuela.Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2007;99:315-9.
34. Arteaga VM, Blitz DL, Echeverría JM, León P, Weir MJ, Diez EM, et al. Hepatitis C in hemophilic patients from Maracaibo-Venezuela.Invest Clin. 1993;34:113-8.
35. Pujol FH, Ponce JG, Lema M, Capriles F, Devesa M, Sirit F, et al. High incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in units with high prevalence. J Clin Microbiol. 1996;34:1633-6.
36. Pujol FH, Loureiro C. Replacement of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b by genotype 2 over a 10-year period in Venezuela. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2007;41:518-20.
37. Schmunis GA, Cruz JR. Safety of the blood supply in Latin America. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005;18:12-29.
38. Garassini M. Hepatitis viral C. Gen. 1993;47:257-73.
39. Cova J, Rangel A, Montes H. Anticuerpos anti HCV en insuficientes renales crónicos. Gen. 1996;50:16-21.
40. Meléndez I. Situación actual de las cárceles en Venezuela. Fecha de consulta mayo de 2009]. Disponible en: http://wwwidaniamelendezfigueredo.blogspot.com/
41. Monsalve-Castillo F, Chacín-Bonilla L, Atencio RJ, Espinoza LP, Costa-León L, Echevarria JM. Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Amerindians from Western Venezuela. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2007;102:107-10.
How to Cite
1.
Monsalve F, Chacín Bonilla L, Atencio RJ, Porto LD, Costa León LA, Estévez JE, et al. Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in a prisoner population from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Biomed. [Internet]. 2009 Dec. 1 [cited 2025 Apr. 7];29(4):647-52. Available from: https://revistabiomedicaorg.biteca.online/index.php/biomedica/article/view/142
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2009-12-01
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