Prevalence of SEN viruses among injection drug users in the San Francisco Bay area

J Infect Dis. 2003 Jul 1;188(1):13-8. doi: 10.1086/375740. Epub 2003 Jun 23.

Abstract

SEN viruses (SENVs) are newly discovered bloodborne viruses that may play a role in liver disease. SENV strain prevalence was examined in a race/ethnicity-stratified sample of 531 injection drug users (IDUs) from the San Francisco Bay area. Weighted prevalences were as follows: SENV-A, 45.7%; SENV-C/H, 35.6%; and SENV-D, 10.3%. Infection was associated with a longer duration of injection drug use. SENV-A was more common in black subjects (adjusted odds ratio [OR(a)], 4.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.65-7.21) and Hispanic subjects (OR(a), 2.30; 95% CI, 1.38-3.85) than in white and non-Hispanic subjects, and the pattern was similar for SENV-C/H. For SENV-D, prevalence was similar in black and white subjects, but lower in Hispanic subjects; infection was less common among women than men (OR(a), 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15-0.71) and more common among men with at least 1 recent male sex partner than among heterosexual men (OR(a), 7.05; 95% CI, 2.62-18.95). SENV strains are common among San Francisco Bay area IDUs, and prevalence varies demographically within this group.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black or African American
  • DNA Virus Infections / complications
  • DNA Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • DNA Virus Infections / ethnology
  • DNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / ethnology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology*
  • White People

Substances

  • DNA, Viral