Hepatitis C in Peru: risk factors for infection, potential iatrogenic transmission, and genotype distribution.

A large seroepidemiologic and genotyping study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was conducted in Lima, Peru, during the periods of 1986 to 1993 (cohort A) and 1994 (cohort B). Anti-HCV seroprevalence rates were 15.6% (216 of 1,389) and 11.

Antibody response to the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax in naturally infected humans.

The circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium vivax consists of a central repeat region flanked by highly conserved non-repeat regions. Serum samples from 33 individuals with naturally acquired infections of P. vivax were tested for antibodies to four antigens representing the vivax CS protein.

HLA studies in brucellar spondylitis.

Among the clinical manifestations of brucellosis, arthritis may occur in over one-third of the patients. Different articular syndromes have been well recognized: some are definitely infectious in nature, whereas others appear to be reactive. The possibility that B27 and B7-CREG antigens could predispose to the occurrence of brucellar spondylitis was investigated in 14 mestizo Peruvian patients.

Reactive arthritis associated with brucellosis: HLA studies.

HLA typing studies were performed on a group of 16 patients with acute Brucella-induced reactive arthritis and results were compared to those obtained in 16 patients with acute brucellosis but without arthritis and to 55 normal control subjects. No increased prevalence of any HLA antigen was noted between patients and control groups. HLA-B27 frequency was diminished in the Peruvian population studied.

An analysis of the 4c complex of HL-A based on Indian populations.

Sera detecting part or all of the 4c group of HL-A antigenic specificities were compared in two American Indian populations, the Ixils and the Pimas, and in one Spanish-Indian hybrid population, the Mestizos of Peru. Several new variants appeared. These were not identical to HL-A5, W5 or W18.