Hepatitis C virus recombinants are rare even among intravenous drug users

Systematic studies of the circulation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recombinants in different parts of the world have been initiated only recently, and no detailed information on this subject is available. The aim of the current investigation was to determine the frequency of HCV recombinants in intrav...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical virology 2010-02, Vol.82 (2), p.232-238
Main Authors: Viazov, Sergei, Ross, Stefan S, Kyuregyan, Karen K, Timm, Joerg, Neumann-Haefelin, Christoph, Isaeva, Olga V, Popova, Oksana E, Dmitriev, Petr N, El Sharkawi, Fathia, Thimme, Robert, Michailov, Michail I, Roggendorf, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Base Sequence
Drug Users
Female
Genotype
Germany
HCV
HCV genotypes
HCV serotypes
Hepacivirus - classification
Hepacivirus - genetics
Hepacivirus - isolation & purification
Hepatitis C - virology
Humans
IVDU
Male
Middle Aged
mixed infection
Molecular Sequence Data
Phenotype
Recombination, Genetic
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods
RNA, Viral - genetics
RNA, Viral - isolation & purification
Russia
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Sequence Homology
Serotyping
Serum - virology
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Young Adult
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Summary:Systematic studies of the circulation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recombinants in different parts of the world have been initiated only recently, and no detailed information on this subject is available. The aim of the current investigation was to determine the frequency of HCV recombinants in intravenous drug users (IVDU) from two European countries. HCV RNA from serum samples was tested by RT-PCR with primers derived from the core and NS5B regions with subsequent sequencing and genotype assignment. The 118 samples from Germany (100%) and 45 out of 47 (96%) sera from Russia demonstrated concordant genotyping results. In the two genotype discrepant sera from Russia 2k/1b recombinants were identified. In order to test the hypothesis that the individuals from the IVDU group might be multiply exposed to various genotypes, 145 out of 165 genotyped serum samples, which were found to be positive for anti-NS4 antibodies, were serotyped with the Murex HCV serotyping kit that is based on detection of antibodies to type-specific peptides derived from the NS4 proteins of different HCV genotypes. Discrepancy in genotype and serotype attributions was observed in 11% cases. Retesting of 99 type 1a or 3a samples with a set of type- and subtype-specific primers revealed the presence of a mixed infection only in one case (1a/3a). Thus, the cases of the mixed infection with different HCV genotypes as well as the recombinant forms of HCV are very rare even in such a highly exposed group as IVDU. J. Med. Virol. 82:232-238, 2010.
ISSN:0146-6615
1096-9071
DOI:10.1002/jmv.21631