GB virus C infection in Indonesian HIV‐positive patients. (15th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anggorowati, Nungki; Yano, Yoshihiko; Subronto, Yanri Wijayanti; Utsumi, Takako; Heriyanto, Didik Setyo; Mulya, Deshinta Putri; Rinonce, Hanggoro Tri; Widasari, Dewiyani Indah; Lusida, Maria Inge; Soetjipto, ; Hayashi, Yoshitake
• Is Part Of: Microbiology and immunology. Volume 57:Number 4(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 298
• Page End: 308
• Publication Date: 2013-04-15
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Immunologie -- Périodiques; 579
• DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0385-5600

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="mim12033-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>GB virus C (GBV‐C), a human virus of the <italic>Flaviviridae</italic> family that is structurally and epidemiologically closest to hepatitis C virus (HCV), has been reported to confer beneficial outcomes in HIV‐positive patients. However, the prevalence of GBV‐C in HIV‐positive individuals in Indonesia is unknown. Since GBV‐C is more prevalent in anti‐HCV positive patients than in anti‐HCV negative subjects, transmission of GBV‐C and HCV could be by the same method. This study examined the prevalence and molecular characteristics of GBV‐C infection in HIV patients in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The prevalence of GBV‐C among HIV patients (<italic>n</italic> = 125, median age 31 years) based on the 5′UTR region was 111/125 (88.8%), including 39/48 (81.3%) and 72/77 (93.5%) HIV‐infected patients with and without HCV infection, respectively. GBV‐C isolates were of genotype 2a, 3 and 6 in 58.3%, 12.6% and 28.4% of patients, respectively. Patients with genotype 3 were significantly younger than those with genotypes 2a or 6 (<italic>P </italic>= 0.001 and <italic>P</italic> = 0.012, respectively). Genotypes 3 and 6 were significantly associated with injection drug use (<italic>P </italic>= 0.004 and <italic>P</italic> = 0.002, respectively) and HCV co‐infection (<italic>P </italic>< 0.001 for both genotypes), indicating a shared transmission route with HCV. In conclusion, the prevalence of GBV‐C among HIV‐positive patients in Indonesia is high, and three genotypes were detected, namely genotype 2a, 3 and 6.</p> </sec> </abstract>