title: High Rate of Hepatitis B and C Coinfections Among People Living with HIV-1 in Bulgaria: 2010-2014.
abstract: In a representative nationwide study, we have determined the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfections among HIV-positive patients diagnosed during the period 2010-2014 in Bulgaria. Despite a relatively low rate of new HIV diagnoses, the rates of hepatitis B and C coinfections among these patients fell within the upper range reported in Europe. HBsAg and HCV antibodies (Ab) were found in 10.4% and 25.6% of the tested individuals, respectively. Importantly, high rates of active hepatitis infections were confirmed by detection of HBV DNA in 51.1% and HCV RNA in 78.1% of the tested individuals. Hepatitis coinfections affected mostly high risk groups and persons with multiple risk behavior, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, prisoners, and Roma people.
authors.affiliation: 1 National Reference Laboratory of HIV, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Ivailo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alexiev
authors.affiliation: 2 National Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexandrova
authors.affiliation: 3 National Reference Laboratory of Hepatitis, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Elica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Golkocheva-Markova
authors.affiliation: 3 National Reference Laboratory of Hepatitis, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teoharov
authors.affiliation: 1 National Reference Laboratory of HIV, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gancheva
authors.affiliation: 1 National Reference Laboratory of HIV, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Asia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostadinova
authors.affiliation: 1 National Reference Laboratory of HIV, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Reneta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.affiliation: 4 Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Ivaylo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elenkov
authors.affiliation: 4 Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chervenjakova
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University , Plovdiv, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoycheva
authors.affiliation: 6 Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Medical University , Varna, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.affiliation: 7 Program Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Health , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Tonka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varleva
authors.affiliation: 2 National Reference Laboratory of Immunology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria .
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikolova
mesh_terms: D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: HIV; coinfection; epidemiology; hepatitis