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Identification and genotyping of hepatitis C virus in injectable and oral drug users in New Zealand
Author(s) -
Woodfield D. G.,
Harness M.,
RixTrott K.,
Tsuda F.,
Okamoto H.,
Mayumi M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1994.tb04425.x
Subject(s) - genotyping , medicine , hepatitis c virus , virology , genotype , hepatitis c , population , hepatitis , drug , flaviviridae , hepatitis a , virus , immunology , biology , environmental health , pharmacology , genetics , gene
Background: Hepatitis C virus infections are known to be common in injectable drug users (IDU) both in New Zealand and overseas. Little is known of the hepatitis C genotype frequency in this population. Aims: To confirm the high incidence of hepatitis C virus infections in IDU and compare this with the frequency in oral drug users (ODU) as well as identify the pattern of hepatitis C genotypes present. Methods: Use was made of an experimental nucleocapsid assay as well as a conventional anti‐HCV assay. HCV‐RNA was identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and a variation of this method was used for HCV genotyping. Results: Seventy‐four per cent of IDU were reactive for anti‐HCV in both types of assay. PCR testing detected several more reactive samples. Dominant genotypes were Types I and V, but Type IV was not detected. Mixed infections were noted in some patients. There was a low frequency of anti‐HCV in ODU. Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus infections are a problem in IDU in New Zealand, and additional public health measures may be required. The distribution of genotypes of HCV‐RNA are similar to those seen in other Western countries.