Higher levels of hepatitis C virus RNA found in blood donors co-infected with HIV as compared to HCV mono-infected donors

Authors

  • Enagnon Kazali Alidjinou Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, France
  • Donatien Moukassa Hôpital Général de Loandjili, Pointe Noire, Congo
  • Eben Ebatetou-Ataboho Hôpital Général de Loandjili, Pointe Noire, Congo
  • Gael Honal Mahoungou Hôpital Général de Loandjili, Pointe Noire, Congo
  • Jean-Paul Pambou Centre Inter-Départemental de Transfusion Sanguine (CIDTS), Pointe-Noire, Congo
  • Famara Sané Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, France
  • Brigitte Prevost Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, France
  • Laurence Bocket Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, France
  • Jean-Rosaire Ibara Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Brazzaville (CHUB), Brazzaville, Congo
  • Didier Hober Université Lille 2, Faculté de Médecine, CHRU Lille, Laboratoire de virologie EA3610, Loos-lez-Lille 59120, France

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.4767

Keywords:

HCV, HIV, co-infection, HCV RNA, blood donors, Congo

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are public health problems in sub-Saharan countries such as the Republic of Congo. HIV infection could impact the characteristics of HCV infection in co-infected people. We investigated HCV-HIV co-infection among blood donors in Congo.

Methodology: Ninety-nine HIV-positive and/or HCV-seropositive blood donors were selected during screening and subsequently tested for aminotransferases and HCV RNA.

Results: A total of 29 donors were found positive for HCV RNA (HCV-infected individuals), including 19/60 (31.66%) HIV donors (co-infected) and 10/39 (25.64%) non-HIV donors (mono-infected). Most of the co-infected donors (17/19) displayed a high viral load (> 5 log). The median HCV RNA level was at least 2 logs higher in co-infected people. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also slightly higher in co-infected donors than in HCV mono-infected donors.

Conclusion: This study reports HCV-HIV co-infection among blood donors in Congo and shows that HCV viral load is higher in HIV donors.

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Published

2014-08-13

How to Cite

1.
Alidjinou EK, Moukassa D, Ebatetou-Ataboho E, Mahoungou GH, Pambou J-P, Sané F, Prevost B, Bocket L, Ibara J-R, Hober D (2014) Higher levels of hepatitis C virus RNA found in blood donors co-infected with HIV as compared to HCV mono-infected donors. J Infect Dev Ctries 8:1068–1071. doi: 10.3855/jidc.4767

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 08: August 2014

Section

Brief Original Articles

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