title: Comparison of HIV-, HBV-, HCV- and co-infection prevalence between Chinese and Burmese intravenous drug users of the China-Myanmar border region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Co-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV is highly prevalent in intravenous drug users (IDUs). Because of the proximity to the "Golden Triangle", HIV prevalence among the IDUs is very high in the China-Myanmar border region. However, there are few studies about co-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV, especially in the region that belongs to Myanmar.
  
  
  METHODS
  721 IDUs, including 403 Chinese and 318 Burmese, were investigated for their HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological status. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the differences of the epidemic situation between the Chinese IDUs and the Burmese IDUs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the Chinese IDUs and the Burmese IDUs, HCV infection was the most prevalent (69.0% vs 48.1%, P<0.001), followed by HBV (51.6% vs 43.1%, P<0.05) and HIV (33.7% vs 27.0%, P>0.05). Besides, there were more HIV-HBV co-infected IDUs (20.1% vs 11.3%, P<0.005), and HIV-HCV co-infected IDUs (31.8% vs 23.9%, P<0.05) in China than in Myanmar, as well as HIV-HBV-HCV triple infection (19.1% vs 10.4%, P<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV is highly prevalent among the IDUs in the China-Myanmar border region. The HIV epidemic appears to be in a downward trend, compared with previous reports. However, all infections were more prevalent among the Chinese IDUs than among the Burmese.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Heng
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Feng-Liang
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duo
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong-Tang
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*