SIGNIFICANT INCIDENCE OF TYPHOID IN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Only proven way of transmission of Hepatitis C is through
blood. The origin is unknown in nearly half the cases. Pollution is suspected as a cause but it is impossible to prove
this relationship directly. Objectives: we thought that typhoid being a proven pollution related disease, determination
of its confection in Hepatitis C patients representing same Socio-economic group would be of interest. A typhoid in
Hepatitis C patients can easily be overlooked because symptoms like fever and abdominal discomfort are present in
both diseases. Design of study; Blood samples were collected from three groups of study as mentioned in materials
and methods. These samples were processed for 4th generation HCV ELISA. PCR for HCV, PCR for typhoid. Blood
culture for typhoid and widal test as required (details are given in methodology). Finally the data thus obtained was
analysed and conclusions were drawn. Place of study: Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) and Millat Laboratory Faisalabad. Period: April 2004 to Oct 2004.
Methods: The parameters included were PCR, blood culture and widal test. There were three groups of study, PCR
and ELISA positive patients of Hepatitis C (105) - further subdivided into two groups, with history of exposure to known
causes of spread of HCV in last one year (65) and those without such history (40); clinically diagnosed cases of typhoid
(30); and healthy controls (50). Results: In the three groups, PCR was positive in 9.5(7.7 and 12.5), 63.3, and 2.0% cases respectively. Figures for blood culture were 4.7(3.1 and 7.5), 33.3, and 0% in the same order, and the respective
figures for widal test were 34.2(33.8 and 35.0), 56.6, and 24.0%. The increase in PCR and blood culture positivity in
Hepatitis C cases as compared with normal subjects is statistically significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: These results
clearly suggest that the source of infection for the two diseases is same in many cases, and therefore, provides a
strong indication of a relationship between pollution and Hepatitis C.