Applied Medical Research. 2019;
6(2):(68-154)
Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among Sudanese patients with Schistosomiasis referred to Al-elafon military hospital in Khartoum state
Mohamed Bashir Hussein Faruha, Rasha Zienalabdeen, Babbiker Mohammed Taher Gorish, Mohamed Abdalrahim Ahmed Abdelgalil, Mohamed Ali Siddig Ali, Omer Abdalgadir Ahmed Taha
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and schistosomiasis have worldwide coexistence, especially in Africa. Some researchers suggest that the schistosomiasis is the risk factor for the development of HCV infection. Objective: The current study was aimed to determine seroprevalence of HCV among Sudanese patients with schistosomiasis. Method: From April to July 2017, 60 blood samples were obtained from the patients who confirmed microscopically with schistosomiasis. The blood samples were centrifuged at 3,000 RPM for 5 minutes to obtain serum. All serum samples were screened for the presence of HCV IgG antibody by using Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The samples with positive reaction were confirmed by repeating the test. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to ask participants about their demographic data as well as their geographical afflation. Statistical analysis was performed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Result: All patients were male and aged between 15 and 27 years old with an average of 20.1 ± 2.25 years. Out of 60 serum samples investigated, three (5%) were positive for HCV IgG antibody, while 56 (93.3%) were shown a negative result. Interestingly, we determine one sample 1 (1.7%) with borderline reaction. Conclusion: The study concluded that there was a high seroprevalence of HCV IgG antibody among patients with Schistosoma infection in comparison to the finding of previous researchers who investigate those are not infected. This may suggest a possible association between HCV infection and Schistosoma. Further studies with the inclusion of a large sample size and by using a more advanced technique Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) should be considered in the future
