Prevalence of Anti-Hepatitis C antibodies in a Rural Community without High Mortality from Liver Disease in Niigata Prefecture

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The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and factors relating to the HCV transmission were evaluated in a community without high mortality from chronic liver disease in Niigata prefecture. A total of 2, 231 subjects were examined to detect anti-HCV core antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with synthetic peptides CP14 and CP9. The prevalence was 1.66% (95% CI; 1.17% to 2.29%) and tended to increase with age. The values were lower than those reported from districts with hepatic disease endemic. Histories of blood transfusion (relative risk (RR) 5.51; 95% Cl 2.90 to 10.48) and surgery with hospital admission (RR 4.43; 95% Cl 2.04 to 9.65) were significantly associated with the anti-HCV core antibodies positive. Multiple logistic analysis corroborated independency of these factors. Among 188 subjects who experienced surgery and/or blood transfusion after 1990, only one (0.5%) had HCV infection. By contrast, 8 (3.5%) were positive in subjects who experienced first acupuncture therapy after 1990. The acupuncture therapy in alternative medicine could be still related to the HCV transmission. J Epidemiol, 1998 ; 8 : 250-255.
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