title: Identification and genotyping of hepatitis C virus in injectable and oral drug users in New Zealand.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Regional Blood Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Woodfield
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harness
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rix-Trott
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayumi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral