Social Networks Shape the Transmission Dynamics of Hepatitis C Virus
PLos ONE
; 5(6): 1-9, Jun 23, 2010.
Article
in English
| Sec. Est. Saúde SP, SESSP-IBPROD, Sec. Est. Saúde SP, SESSP-IBACERVO
| ID: biblio-1065088
Responsible library:
BR78.1
Localization: BR78.1
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects 170 million people worldwide, and is a major public health problem in Brazil, where over 1% of the population may be infected and where multiple viral genotypes co-circulate. Chronically infected individuals are both the source of transmission to others and are at risk for HCV-related diseases, such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. Before the adoption of anti-HCV control measures in blood banks, this virus was mainly transmitted via blood transfusion. Today, needle sharing among injecting drug users is the most common form of HCV transmission. Of particular importance is that HCV prevalence is growing in non-risk groups. Since there is no vaccine against HCV, it is important to determine the factors that control viral transmission in order to develop more efficient control measures. However, despite the health costs associated with HCV, the factors that determine the spread of virus at the epidemiological scale are often poorlyunderstood. Here, we sequenced partial NS5b gene sequences sampled from blood samples collected from 591 patients in São Paulo state, Brazil. We show that different viral genotypes entered São Paulo at different times, grew at different rates, and are associated with different age groups and risk behaviors. In particular, subtype 1b is older and grew more slowly than subtypes 1a and 3a, and is associated with multiple age classes. In contrast, subtypes 1a and 3b are associated with younger people infected more recently, possibly with higher rates of sexual transmission. The transmission dynamics of HCV in São Paulo therefore vary by subtype and are determined by a combination of age, risk exposure and underlying social network. We conclude that social factors may play a key role in determining the rate and pattern of HCV spread, and should influence future intervention policies.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
National databases
/
Brazil
Health context:
Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas
/
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
Health problem:
Goal 9: Noncommunicable diseases and mental health
/
Goal 10: Communicable diseases
/
Target 3.3: End transmission of communicable diseases
Database:
Sec. Est. Saúde SP
/
SESSP-IBACERVO
/
SESSP-IBPROD
Main subject:
Risk Groups
/
Hepatitis C
/
Health Policy
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Risk factors
Aspects:
Social determinants of health
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
PLos ONE
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Instituto Butantan/BR