Identification and genotyping of hepatitis C virus in injectable and oral drug users in New Zealand.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Woodfield
D G
DG
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Regional Blood Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Harness
M
M
Rix-Trott
K
K
Tsuda
F
F
Okamoto
H
H
Mayumi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral