Basic Sciences of Medicine 2014, 3(2): 26-29 DOI: 10.5923/j.medicine.20140302.02 Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) Antibody Detection among Fresh Undergraduate Students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria Okonko I. O. 1,* , Ikunga C. V. 1 , Anugweje K. C. 2 , Okerentugba P. O. 1 1 Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, East-West Road, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 2 Department of Health Services, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, East-West Road, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria Abstract This study reports carried out to detect the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibody among fresh undergraduate students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The subjects included in this study were 200 [(100(50%)] males and [(100(50%)] females; of ages between 16–20 years, 21–25 years, and 26 years and above. Plasma samples from the subjects were tested for the presence of antibodies to HCV using Global® HCV-Ab kit (Global Diagnostics, USA)and ACON HCV-Ab kit (ACON Laboratories, Inc. San Diego, USA) in a stepwise order for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies. The overall prevalence rate was 0.0%. Also age groups 16–20 years, 21–25 years, and 26 years and above had the same prevalence rate of 0.0%. The prevalence rate of HCV antibody was the same among males and their female counterparts with the rate of 0.0%. This study however, revealed the absence of this infection among the fresh undergraduate students population in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Further studies on a larger scale is advocated for the generation of data and the use of rapid test kit should be used in conjunction with other immunoassay particularly Elisa technique are therefore recommended. Keywords Antibodies, HCV, Undergraduate students, Nigeria 1. Introduction Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver while viral hepatitis is a conventional term used to denote hepatitis caused by the hepatotrophic viruses (hepatitis A-G) [1].After its discovery and characterization by Choo et al [2], hepatitis C Virus has remained a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and the main reason for liver transplantation in the western world [3]. HCV infections are known to occur in the general population. Approximately 170 million people worldwide who are about 3-4% of the world population are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus who are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis, cancer or both has been shown to have a worldwide distribution, occurring among persons of all ages, genders, races and regions of the world [4]. Slightly different prevalence was reported from different regions of the world. Prevalence of 1.7% was reported from America, 1.03% from Europe, 3.9% from the Western Pacific, 4.6% from the Eastern Mediterranean, 2.15% from South Asia and 5.3% from Africa [5-7]. Among HCV infected persons only 20-30% has * Corresponding author: mac2finney@yahoo.com (Okonko I. O.) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/medicine Copyright © 2014 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved symptoms of acute hepatitis. About 75%-85% of infected older adults and 50-60% of infected Juveniles or young adults become chronically infected. Majority of persons with chronic HCV infections are asymptomatic [8]. Currently, new HCV infections are primarily due to intravenous or nasal drug use, and to a lesser degree to unsafe medical or surgical procedures. Parenteral transmission via tattooing or acupuncture with unsafe materials is also implicated in occasional transmissions. The risk of perinatal and of heterosexual transmission is low, while recent data indicate that promiscuous male homosexual activity is related to HCV infection [9]. The factors that determine the outcome and natural course of HCV infection are not completely understood. However, it is generally accepted that next to virological factors innate and adaptive immune responses play an important role in both, control of HCV infection and as disease pathogenesis [10]. HCV replicates mainly in hepatocytes, but its nucleic acids have also been found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in central nervous system cells [11]. The detection of anti-HCV antibodies in plasma or serum is based on serological tests especially the use of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) or Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assays (ELISA) which are now commercially available[6] and molecular (PCR being used to determine the extent of the virus variation) [12]. This study reports carried out to detect the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibody among