Journal of Liver

Co-infection with schistosomiasis and hepatitis C: A synergistic association

3^rd World Congress on Hepatitis and Liver Diseases

October 10-12, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Amy E Abruzzi

Rutgers University, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Liver

Abstract:

Although many studies have been undertaken, it is still controversial as to whether or not co-infection with schistosomiasis and hepatitis C increases the susceptibility to or progression from either disease. Drawn in part from our recent publication in Advances in Parasitology, my presentation will review key findings from studies conducted on human populations with adequate evidence to make this assessment. Considerations include but are not limited to: Subject selection (asymptomatic cases vs. subjects presenting with clinical disease); study design, which directly impacts our ability to infer causality (case series, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort study); use and choice of control population (apparently healthy subjects vs. other hospital patients vs. none); sample size, which directly impacts statistical power and can result in a Type II error; geographic area (i.e., Egypt, Brazil, China), which may reflect differences in population genetics, public health history, environmental differences or any number of other important factors; method of testing for schistosomal infections (stool vs. antibody test) or if advanced schistosomal disease was present (ultrasound, liver biopsy vs. none); method of serological testing for HCV (use of anti-HCV alone or with RNA testing) and year of the study, which reflects among other things technological improvements between tests, as well as possible changes in the frequency of exposure in the populations under study (use of parenteral antischistosomal therapy vs. the oral anti-schistosomal medication). Particular attention will be given to clinical studies that allow us to evaluate whether or not a synergistic association exists.

Biography :

Email: Amy.Abruzzi@rutgers.edu