Prevalence and evaluation of salmonellosis and brucellosis in chronic hepatitis c virus patients from egypt

Typhoid fever and brucellosis resulted in a significant morbidity and mortality in patients, particularly in endemic areas. These bacteria could invade the hepatic tissue and involved in a critical complications. The current study detected the seroprevalence and assessed the clinical changes of Salmonella or Brucella infection among the HCV infected patients. 185 chronically infected patients with HCV were serologically examined and some clinical parameters were detected. Overall seroprevalence of Salmonella typhi and Brucella spp infection was 22.16%, 1.62%, respectively. No significant difference was detected in the prevalence of Salmonella typhi or Brucella spp among HCV patients based on area, gender, age and HCV RNA load. Higher prevalence of Salmonella typhi was significantly detected among rural area residents. Liver cirrhosis demonstrated a high percentage of patients with co-infections of Salmonella typhi and chronic HCV compared to patients with chronic HCV mono-infection. Moreover, a significant increase in the level of ALT, AST and the relative lymphocyte count was detected in patients with concomitant Salmonella typhi and chronic HCV infections compared to patients with chronic HCV mono-infection. In conclusions, Salmonella typhi and Brucella spp infection is common among HCV patients in Egypt. Regular screening for these bacterial infections among HCV patients is highly recommended.