Study on the epidemiology and distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 and hepatitis C virus infection among intravenous drug users and illegal blood donors in China / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the epidemiologic features and distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among intravenous drug users and illegal blood donors in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing were used to evaluate the HIV-1 gag p17 and env C2-V3 regions, as well as the HCV 5'NCR and E1/E2 regions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 239 subjects with reported HIV-1 infection, 56.9% (136/239) were seropositive for anti-HCV. Of those, 96.3% (131/136) were co-infected with HCV through intravenous drug use and illegal blood donation. Intravenous drug users in Yunnan, Guangxi and Xinjiang provinces were infected with HIV-1 subtype C and HCV genotypes 1b, 3a, 3b and 4, whereas illegal blood donors in Henan province harbored HIV-1 subtype B' and HCV genotypes 1b and 2a. Five different HIV-1 subtypes were identified among 17 HIV-1-infected individuals from Beijing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Multiple HIV-1 subtypes and HCV genotypes were identified in China which were associated with several different modes of transmission. Homogeneity within the sequences of the two viruses suggested the recent, but separate, outbreaks of HIV-1 and HCV infection. The distinct distribution patterns of HIV-1 and HCV genotypes in two high-risk groups seemed to be more closely linked to the mode of transmission than to geographic proximity.</p>