title: Prevalence of blood-borne viruses among intravenous drug users and alcoholics in Hiroshima, Japan.
abstract: We investigated the prevalence of human immunodeficiency viruses-1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2), human T-lymphotropic virus type I and II, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus among intravenous drug users (IVDU) in Hiroshima, Japan, where little is known about their present levels. From June to December 1993, serum samples were collected from 47 IVDU and 98 alcoholics in Hiroshima, Japan, and examined for markers of virus infection. The prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and/or HCV-RNA was significantly higher in IVDU than alcoholics (74.5% vs 20.4%, 44.7% vs 10.2% respectively, P < 0.001). In contrast, the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and/or core antigen (anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc) showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (57.4% vs 66.3%). HIV-1 infection was found in one (2.1%) IVDU and genome analysis indicated that it was subtype B according to Myers' classification. Thus, an extremely low level of HIV infection and a high level of HCV infection was found in IVDU. Careful follow-up of this group is thought to be needed to minimize an outbreak of HIV-1 infection in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Research, Kure National Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichimura
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kurimura
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsukue
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuchie
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral