Abstract
Since the majority of heroin abusers use injection as the primary route of admission, heroin abuse contributes significantly to the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We determined HCV infection and its genotype distribution among injection heroin users in Wuhan, the largest city in the central China. Eight hundred seventy-eight (84%) out of 1046 serum specimens from the injection drug users were positive for HCV antibody. Out of randomly selected 122 specimens positive for HCV antibody, seventy-eight (64%) had detectable HCV RNA with genotype 6a as the predominant strain (50%), followed by 3b (32.2%), 1a (8.1%), 1b (6.5%), and 3a (3.2%). HCV RNA levels in male heroin users were significantly higher (P=0.013) than those in the female subjects. Although there was no significant difference in HCV RNA levels among the specimens positive for HCV 6a and 1a/1b, the samples with 6a or 1a/1b contained higher levels of HCV RNA than the specimens positive for HCV 3b (P=0.019, P=0.012, respectively). These findings indicate that there is a high prevalence of HCV infection with genotypes 6a and 3b as predominated strains among injection heroin users in Wuhan, China.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Age Factors
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Antibodies, Viral / blood
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China / epidemiology
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Cohort Studies
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Female
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Genetic Variation*
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Hepacivirus / classification
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Hepacivirus / genetics*
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Hepacivirus / immunology
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Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
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Hepatitis C / epidemiology
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Hepatitis C / immunology
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Hepatitis C / virology*
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Heroin Dependence / virology*
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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Sex Factors
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Viral Proteins / genetics
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Viral Proteins
Associated data
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GENBANK/EF185923
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GENBANK/EF185924
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GENBANK/EF185925
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GENBANK/EF185926
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