Hepatitis C and B virus in schistosomiasis patients on oral or parenteral treatment.

Egypt leads the world in hepatitis C infection cases. Schistosomiasis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is common in Egypt. Hepatitis B (HBsAg) is also encountered. Potassium antimony tartarate was used for schistosomiasis in endemic areas all over the world for more than 50 years, intravenously and was prohibited since late of the last century when the oral drugs were developed. Some authors postulated that schistosomiasis might contribute to persistence of HCV via biological factors. This study compared the prevalence of HCV and HBV among schistosomiasis patients in endemic areas given parenteral or oral route antischistosomiasis. A total of 102 manual workers patients were selected from different areas in Cairo and Gharbia Governorates. They were 82 males and 20 females; their age was ranged between 16-60 years (40 +/- 12). Sheets were filled out on each patient including name, age, sex, history of haematurea or bloody diarrhea, parasitic infection, intravenous injections, blood transfusion, dental care, shaving, previous treatment, and anti-schistosomiasis. They were divided into GI: 50 patients treated IV since 20-30 years ago with ages (49.4 +/- 7.4) and GII: 52 patients treated orally up to 8 years ago with ages (2.2 +/- 7.7). They were subjected to IHAT antischistosomal antibodies, circulating schistosome antigens in urine, HBsAg and HCVAb, the latter was confirmed by PCR for positivity, and Alanin transeferese (ALT). In GI, 42/50 (84%) had HCV compared to 4/52(7.7%) in GII, with statistical significant. HBsAg was detected in a patient. HCV patients showed abnormal liver function. 3/52 received oral treatment showed elevation of liver function (5.8%). 10% (10/50) of GI and 34.6% (18/52) of GII were schistosomal antigen in urine positive.