Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva and serum of patients coinfected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2001-02, Vol.63 (2), p.117-119
• Main Authors: Rey, D., Fritsch, S., Schmitt, C., Meyer, P., Lang, J.M., Stoll-Keller, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; bDNA; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - virology; Hepatitis C virus; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; oral fluid; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral - analysis; Saliva - virology; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Viremia - virology
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/1096-9071(20000201)63:2<117::AID-JMV1005>3.0.CO;2-1

The presence and the quantity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were investigated in saliva and serum of patients infected with both HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Paired serum and saliva samples were collected from 59 HIV‐HCV coinfected patients. HCV RNA was detected by nested‐PCR, using primers derived from the 5′ non‐coding region of HCV, and positive results were quantified using the b‐DNA method. HCV RNA was detected in the saliva of 22/59 (37.3%) patients, with a mean level of 1.15 × 106 genome equivalents/ml; there was no correlation of salivary positivity with immune status (CD4 cell count), age or HIV risk group, but there was with gender (19/38 [50%] positive results in male, compared to 3/21 [14.3%] in female, P = 0.007). HCV RNA was detected in the serum of 45/59 (76.3%) patients at a higher level (mean of 2.52 × 107 genome equivalents/ml) compared to saliva. Positivity was not correlated with age, gender or CD4 + cell count. There was a correlation between qualitative saliva and serum results (P = 0.003), but not between quantifications (P = 0.57). This first study reporting significant amounts of HCV RNA in saliva could have important implications for HCV epidemiology. J. Med. Virol. 63:117–119, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.