High prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a Cameroon rural forest area.

Sera of 807 people living in a rural forest area in southern Cameroon were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; 101 (12.5%) gave positive results and were confirmed by line immunoassay. There was a highly significant difference between subjects aged over 40 years and those under 40 years, with the former having a much higher prevalence of antibodies. There were also significant differences between antibody prevalences among subjects aged > 40 years in the 3 ethnic groups studied--Baka Pygmies (6%), Fangs (30%) and Boulous (44%). Further studies are necessary to determine the reasons for these differences.