The distinct epidemic characteristics of HCV co-infection among HIV-1-infected population caused by drug injection and sexual transmission in Yunnan, China

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was frequent in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in Yunnan province. We studied the epidemic characteristics of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Serum from 894 HIV-1 patients was collected, together with basic information and biochemical features. All samples were infected with HIV through injecting drug users (IDUs) and sexual transmission (ST). The NS5B gene was amplified and sequenced to affirm HCV genotype. In total, 202 HIV patients were co-infected with HCV, and most (81.19%) of co-infected patients were IDUs. Genotype 3b was predominant (37.62%) in these samples, and its frequency was similar in patients with IDU and ST. The frequencies of genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a, 6a, 6n, 2a and 6u were 3.96%, 16.34%, 23.76%, 6.93%, 10.40%, 0.50% and 0.50%, respectively. However, genotype 3a showed significantly different frequency in HCV patients with IDU and ST (P = 0.019). When HCV patients were divided into subgroups, the haemoglobin (HGB) level was significantly higher in patients with genotype 3a than in patients with 3b (P = 0.033), 6a (P = 0.006) and 6n (P = 0.007), respectively. Although no difference existed among HCV subgroups, HIV-viral load was identified to be positively correlated with the HGB level and CD4+ cells when dividing HCV/HIV co-infected persons into male and female groups. In conclusion, genotype 3b was the predominant HCV genotype in Yunnan HIV/HCV co-infected persons. The HGB level was higher in patients with genotype 3a than others. HIV-viral load was positively correlated with the HGB level and CD4+ cells in the male or female HCV-infected group.

Transmission networks of hepatitis C virus among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in Guangdong, China

“…This study revealed that the main circulating HCV subgenotypes among HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in Guangdong were 6a (58.28%, 176/302), followed by 1b (18.54%, 56/302), 3a (10.93%, 33/302), 3b (6.95%, 21/302), 1a (3.64%, 11/302), 2a (0.99%, 3/302), and 6n (0.66%, 2/302). The predominant HCV subgenotypes among HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals in Guangdong were similar to those in Guangxi (6a (46%), 3a (20%), 3b (16%)) [27] but distinct from those in Yunnan (3b (37.62%), 3a (23.76%), 1b (16.34%)) [28]. HCV genotypes vary in the Asia-Pacific region [29], HCV infections and HIV infections have the common transmission route of sharing contaminated injecting equipment, sexual transmission and blood related transmission [29].…”

“…Guangxi Province, which borders Vietnam, could have been the first region to contract 6a for circulation. Genotype 6a was introduced into Guangxi from Vietnam and then further spread to Guangdong through drug trafficking routes and IDU networks [28][29][30].…”

Hepatitis C Co-infection in People Living With HIV—Epidemiologic Differences Between Men Who Have Sex With Men MSM and Non-MSM

“…It could be argued that drug-injecting MSM were the bridge between the two viral communities (14). However, the distinct genotype distributions among risk groups could only be explained by founder effect (25,26). It is likely that only a fraction of the HCV co-infections could be attributable to their needle sharing behavior (27).…”

Evaluation of seven rapid diagnostic tests for detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies in China

“…In addition, the prevalence of HCV infection is different in different populations. For example, the prevalence of HCV infection in premarital screening population was 0.3%, 14 while that of intravenous drug user population was ranging from 22% to 95% 15 . Therefore, this study set the different prevalence of HCV infection in the population (0.5%, 1% and 10%, respectively), and combined with clinical sensitivity and specificity to calculate PPV and NPV.…”