ABSTRACT
Background: Drug abusers are one of the most at risk populations for hepatitis C virus [HCV] transmission worldwide. The aims of this study were to measure the seroprevalence of HCV and to compare certain related risk factors in participants who were referred to drug rehabilitation centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Materials and Methods: Blood samples and interviews containing questions about age, sex, level of education, house status, jobs, history of imprisonment and psychiatric problems, age at the first drug and first intravenous [IV] drug uses, safe and unsafe sexual activity, and time and duration of IV drug use in the past 30 days were obtained from 1116 participants in rehabilitation centers. The sera were tested for anti-HCV antibody using enzyme immunoassay. The data were analyzed using independent samples t test and one way ANOVA for quantitative variables and Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for qualitative variables
Results: Among the 844 participants who agreed to blood sampling, the prevalence of HCV infection was 14.2%. The significant positive associations were detected between anti-HCV antibody positivity and higher levels of education [p =0.008], no history of imprisonment [p<0.001], having a job [p =0.006], having a partner [p <0.001], and higher age at the first drug use [p<0.001]
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV infection among drug abuser was very high in comparison with the general population of Iran. Making policies to prevent transmission of HCV infection among this high risk subpopulation is highly recommended
ABSTRACT
Recent studies suggest that rare codon clusters are functionally important for protein activity. Here, for the first time we analyzed and reported rare codon clusters in Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] genome and then identified the location of these rare codon clusters in the structure of HCV protein. This analysis was performed using the Sherlocc program that detects statistically relevant conserved rare codon clusters. By this program, we identified the rare codon cluster in three regions of HCV genome; NS2, NS3, and NS5A coding sequence of HCV genome. For further understanding of the role of these rare codon clusters, we studied the location of these rare codon clusters and critical residues in the structure of NS2, NS3 and NS5A proteins. We identified some critical residues near or within rare codon clusters. It should be mentioned that characteristics of these critical residues such as location and situation of side chains are important in assurance of the HCV life cycle. The characteristics of these residues and their relative status showed that these rare codon clusters play an important role in proper folding of these proteins. Thus, it is likely that these rare codon clusters may have an important role in the function of HCV proteins. This information is helpful in development of new avenues for vaccine and treatment protocols