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Title
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Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C among drug users in Flanders, Belgium: association of genotype with clinical parameters and with sex- and drug-related risk behaviours
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Author
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Abstract
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| The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic variation of hepatitis C among drug users in Flanders and to relate the distribution of genotypes to the characteristics of the population. Hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) quantification and genotyping was performed on stored samples from 161 anti-HCV-positive injecting and non-injecting drug users. Information on sociodemographic status, drug-related risk behaviour and sexual risk behaviour was available for each drug user. HCV-RNA was present in 152 of 161 samples (94.4%). Genotype 1 was predominant (48.7%), followed by genotype 3 (41.2%), genotype 4 (8.8%) and genotype 2 (1.4%). In the multivariate analysis, lack of a history of injecting drug use was confirmed as a statistically significant predictor for infection with genotype 1. Predictors for infection with genotype 3 were the presence of anti-HBc antibodies and a history of injecting drug use. Being tattooed emerged as a statistically significant predictor for infection with genotype 4. The 94.4% prevalence of HCV-RNA among anti-HCV-positive drug users was considerably higher than the 5486% chronicity rate found globally among HCV-infected patients. The results of this study suggest the existence of separate transmission networks for injecting drug users and non-injecting drug users. Finally, the results suggest that tattooing practices play a role in the spread of HCV among drug users. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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European journal of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. - Wiesbaden
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Publication
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Wiesbaden
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2005
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ISSN
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0934-9723
[print]
1435-4373
[online]
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DOI
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10.1007/S10096-005-1376-9
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Volume/pages
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24
:8
(2005)
, p. 514-522
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ISI
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000232162200002
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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