Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus among patients with leprosy in several African countries and the Yemen

The prevalence of anti‐HCV was determined in 1,309 leprosy patients and a control group of 1,469 subjects from 6 sub‐Saharan African countries and the Yemen. Sera found positive by an initial second generation ELISA were subjected to 3 additional confirmatory tests. The anti‐HCV prevalence in leprosy patients (7.1%) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.6%). HCV seroprevalence increased with age in both the control and leprosy groups. No statistically significant difference could be found between anti‐HCV prevalence and the several clinical forms of leprosy among patients. The results of this study indicate a high degree of exposure or chronic carriage of hepatitis C among leprosy patients. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.