Hello

HEPATITIS C VIRUS ( HCV )

It s a member of flavi virus family. It is a single stranded RNA enveloped virus. There are many serotypes.

* Transmission: is mainly parenteral as in HBV. Sexual and prenatal transmission has been very difficult to document and considerably less efficient than for HBV. However, it was reported possible with severely immune suppressed HIV patient.

There is no evidence of insect vector. In 10 – 50 % of cases the source of HCV infection is not known.

* Epidemiology: HCV infection is usually mild or a symptomatic. However, chronic carriage rate is higher than in HBV and 75% of cases progress to chronic disease i.e. chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC.

* Laboratory diagnosis:

1- Detection of anti HCV antibodies in blood by ELISA and confirmation by a more specific test RIBA

( Recombinant Immune blot assay ).

2- Detection of viral RNA by PCR which indicates the presence of circulating virus i.e. active infection. It is useful in monitoring effect of anti viral therapy by measuring the viral load.

HEPATITIS C VIRUS ( HCV )

Pleased traffic

(If you like this topic , publish it plz)