[The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C antibodies in pregnant women and blood donors in Bénin].

In order to precise if the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a potentially important infection for public health in Benin, the authors have studied the seroprevalence rate of this virus in august 1991, among two groups of population in Cotonou: 349 donors of blood (including 321 males); mean of ages: 28.7 y.-o., 149 pregnant women (mean of ages: 24.5 y.-o.). They have used an ELISA test (Innotest HCV Innogenetis NV, Antwerpen, Belgium) and retested the positive serums by LIA (Line Immuno Assay, Inno LIA HCV). A serum reacting with at least one peptide has been considered as positive. In the donors of blood and the pregnant women, a prevalence rate of respectively 2.3% (+/- 1.2) and 0.7% (+/- 0.9) has been established. These rates are worthy to be compared to those reported in Niger among the same types of population and with the same serologic tests. They are much inferior to those noted in East Gabon or South Cameroon: respectively 6.5% and 9.8%. This preliminary study has to be enlarged by investigations, which may precise the consequences of HCV presence in Benin for public health in this country.