Seroprevalence of HCV and HIV Antibodies in Tuberculosis Confirmed Patients in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HCV and HIV antibodies in TB confirmed patient attending the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 500 tuberculosis confirmed patients were selected by random sampling. Their blood samples were collected and assayed for HCV and HIV antibodies using Clinotech diagnostic Anti-HCV detection test and Abbot determine HIV ½ in conjunction with Chembio HIV ½ STAT-PAK assay kit respectively. Out of 500 TB patients tested, 10(2.0%), 21(4.2%) and 3(0.6%) tested positive to HCV, HIV, and HCV/HIV antibodies respectively. Age group 36-45 was the most prevalence of HCV, HIV, and HCV/HIV antibodies with P-value 0.000, 0.000 and 0.002 respectively. The associated risk factors were alcoholism 14 (45.2%), being the highest identified risk factor, followed by previous unprotected sex, multiple sex partner, previous blood donor, previous transfusion, tattoos, and history of the Sexually transmitted disease being the least risk factor 3 (9.68%). The degree of disparity in regards to HCV, HIV and co-exists of HCV/HIV antibodies between 302 male and 198 female that participated were not statistically significant. (P-value 0.531, 0.549,and 0.824 for HCV, HIV and HCV/HIV antibodies respectively).These findings confirmed that both HCV and HIV can co-exist in TB patients, and may increase the risk of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity, if overlooked, there will be a greater risk for TB patients, and these infections will continue to spread through the associated risk factors. However, in managing the TB patients, there is a need to screen for Anti- HCV, as it has been for HIV antibody.