HBV, HCV, AND HIV-COINFECTION IN INDIVIDUALS SELECTED FROM AN INFECTOLOGY CLINIC AT A DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE WEST REGION OF SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

Studies of HBV, HCV and HIV-coinfection of populations living in small and middle cities are scarce in Brazil. Our aim was to evaluate the seroprevalence in individuals selected from a clinic of Infectology from a regional hospital of the West region of São Paulo state, Brazil. HBV (Anti-HBsAg), HCV (anti-HCV) and HIV (anti-HIV) seroloprevalence was determined by ELISA. Individuals with anti-HCV were further subjected to RNA-PCR and genotyping determination. All 7021 subject’s files of the Infectology clinic from January 2000 to December 2006 were reviewed. Of which 1228 individuals were screened and 44.9% had isolated or associated HBsAg, HCV, and HIV antibodies. Anti-HIV antibodies were found in 24.7% patients, 20.3% had HIV monoinfection and 4.4% were coinfected with hepatitis viruses (HCV: 4.0%; HBV: 0.4%). Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 14% patients affecting males more than females (p< 0.05) and individuals >50-years-old compared to HIV (p= 0.0001) or HBV (p= 0.0063). HCV-RNA was detected in 73.7% samples with a predominance of genotype 1 (72.5%) and genotype 3 (24.2%). Anti-HBsAg antibodies were found in 5.9% patients. A significant percentage of selected individuals seen in the infectology clinic harbored HIV and viral hepatitis infections that would otherwise remain undiagnosed.