Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among the Cadaver Population - A Jaipur Based Study

Forensic medical personnel are at risk of exposure to blood-borne viruses including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus. The aim of this study was to determine seropositivity of HIV, HBV and HCV among a cadaver population at the SMS hospital, Jaipur. The study group consists of Four hundred eighteen randomly picked subjects over a period of one year from October 2008 to September 2009. These cadavers were screened for HIV antibodies, HBs Antigen (hepatitis B surface antigen) and HCV antibodies (hepatitis C virus antibodies) by applying ELISA Test. For HIV antibodies initial reactive tests were confirmed by Tridot Test and SD Bioline test as per NACO guideline. The maximum numbers of deceased in the present study group were in the age range of 15-44 years being 295 in number (70.58%). Out of these, 224 (75.9%) were males and 71 (24.06%) were females. In all 46 (11.0%) samples out of 418 were seropositive for HIV, HBV and HCV infections. From 418 subjects, 10 were seropositive for HIV (2.39%).all of them males. Seropositivity for HCV was found in 7(1.67%); males only. Out of 29 subjects seropositive for HBV, majority i.e. 17 (58.62%) were in age range of 15-44 years. In the serological status of HBV, 29(6.94%) subjects showed positive results. Among them 21 were males and 8 were females. All forensic cadavers should be treated as potentially infectious and universal precautions should be taken.