A simple and economical strategy for downstream processing of specific antibodies to human transferrin from egg yolk.

A rapid and economical procedure for extraction of antibodies from egg yolk is described. Laying hens were immunized with human transferrin and extracts of egg-yolk were purified with a procedure based on affinity chromatography. The resulting purified antibodies were evaluated in a nephelometric system for the assay of transferrin in human sera. The results agreed closely with those obtained with a commercially available anti-human transferrin serum from rabbits.

[Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus among persons visiting the Burundi health services]. / Séroprévalence du virus de l'hépatite C parmi les personnes fréquentant les services de soins du Burundi.

The epidemiology of hepatitis C (HCV), especially on the African continent, is not well known. In this study, we investigated the presence of antibodies to HCV in 685 out-patients, seen in several health care centers or hospitals in different regions in Burundi from January to February 1991. Serological tests of the second generation were used. The global prevalence varied from 3.2% to 14.1% according to the center. Urban seroprevalence tended to be higher than rural prevalence. Also, with increasing age, a higher prevalence was observed. Anti-HCV antibodies were absent in patients younger than 21, while specific antibodies were detected in 23.1% of patients older than 50. Although the prevalence in men (10.4%) was higher than in women (7.4%), this difference was not statistically significant. Taking into account the selection of subjects participating in this evaluation, the results can not be extrapolated to the general population. No association between HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was seen in this study. In contrast to previously described results from studies using reagents of the first generation, no cross-reactions were observed with anti-malarial antibodies.