HCV non-1b genotypes in injecting drug users from Romania.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Romania historically linked to unsafe practices and predominantly genotype 1b.
• An increasing trend of HCV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been observed over the past decade.
• This epidemiological shift necessitates an investigation into potential changes in circulating HCV viral strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the rise in HCV infections among PWID in Romania has led to a diversification of circulating HCV genotypes.
• To analyze the prevalence of different HCV genotypes and subtypes within the PWID population.
• To assess the impact of co-infections (HIV, HBV) on HCV genotype distribution.

Main Methods:

• HCV genotyping was performed using reverse hybridization.
• The study included 130 HCV-infected individuals who inject drugs (PWID).
• Demographic and risk factor data, including co-infections, were collected.

Main Results:

• Non-1b HCV genotypes were found to be prevalent in 54.8% of PWID studied.
• HCV subtype 1a was the most common (24%), followed by 3a (14.4%) and genotype 4 (7.7%).
• High rates of HIV-HCV co-infection (80.8%) and HIV-HCV-HBV triple infection (26.9%) were observed, with active viral replication more frequent in co-infected individuals.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms a significant diversification of HCV genotypes circulating among PWID in Romania, moving away from the historical prevalence of genotype 1b.
• Continuous monitoring of HCV genotypes in this population is crucial for understanding European epidemiological trends.
• Findings have important implications for guiding HCV treatment strategies and public health interventions.