title: High prevalence of genotype 4 among hepatitis C virus-infected intravenous drug users in north-eastern Poland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of hepatitis C genotypes among intravenous drug users in north-eastern Poland. The study group included intravenous drug users recruited at a drug treatment center and a clinic for HIV-infected patients. HCV infection was confirmed by qualitative nested RT-PCR to test for the presence of HCV RNA. Genotypes were determined by 5'UTR sequencing and comparing the results with known genotype sequences. Among 111 HCV-infected and HCV-RNA-positive intravenous drug users, the most prevalent genotypes were 1 (38.7%), 3 (37.8%), and 4 (23.4%). Most infections with genotype 4 (88.5%) were found among HCV-HIV-coinfected drug users. The study demonstrated a high prevalence of genotype 4 (23.4%) among HCV-infected Polish drug users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. schlabicz@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flisiak
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kowalczuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiercińska-Drapalo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pytel-Krolczuk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prokopowicz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chyczewski
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral