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High prevalence of genotype 4 among hepatitis C virus‐infected intravenous drug users in North‐Eastern Poland
Author(s) -
Chlabicz S.,
Flisiak R.,
Kowalczuk O.,
WiercińskaDrapalo A.,
PytelKrolczuk B.,
Prokopowicz D.,
Chyczewski L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21107
Subject(s) - genotype , virology , intravenous drug , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , drug , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , virus , biology , viral disease , gene , pharmacology , genetics
The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of hepatitis C genotypes among intravenous drug users in north‐eastern Poland. The study group included intravenous drug users recruited at a drug treatment center and a clinic for HIV‐infected patients. HCV infection was confirmed by qualitative nested RT‐PCR to test for the presence of HCV RNA. Genotypes were determined by 5′UTR sequencing and comparing the results with known genotype sequences. Among 111 HCV‐infected and HCV–RNA‐positive intravenous drug users, the most prevalent genotypes were 1 (38.7%), 3 (37.8%), and 4 (23.4%). Most infections with genotype 4 (88.5%) were found among HCV–HIV‐coinfected drug users. The study demonstrated a high prevalence of genotype 4 (23.4%) among HCV‐infected Polish drug users. J. Med. Virol. 80:615–618, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.