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Zhang M, Ning S, Zhang L, Liu G, Chen S, Zhang Y. Transmission network of Hepatitis C virus subtype 2a in Huazhou County, Shaanxi Province, China. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:1048. [PMID: 39333968 PMCID: PMC11428910 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09929-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huazhou County has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection incidence and prevalence in Shaanxi Province, northwest China. Understanding the characteristics of HCV transmission patterns in this area could help guide targeted prevention strategies. This study employed phylogenetic analysis and the construction of a molecular transmission network of HCV-infected people in Huazhou County to describe the predominant strains of HCV and identify factors associated with onward transmission. METHODS Whole blood samples were obtained from HCV RNA-positive individuals for sequencing of the non-structural protein 5B region. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine HCV subgenotypes, and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was employed to estimate the evolutionary history. The transmission network was constructed using the ML phylogenetic tree and pairwise distances. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with clustering in the transmission network. RESULTS ML phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the 61 sequences analyzed in the study belonged to subtype 2a. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis showed that the majority of subtype 2a sequences originated in the northwest of China and had descended approximately 8 to 20 years before sampling. Overall, 26.2% of participant sequences were grouped into phylogenetic network clusters. Multivariate logistic regression showed that individuals who had a history of blood transfusions and were living in Shi Village, Huazhou County, were more likely to form clusters within the transmission network. CONCLUSION HCV transmission in Huazhou County was predominantly associated with subtype 2a. Having a history of blood transfusions and living in residential Shi Village, Huazhou County, were factors associated with a high risk of HCV infection transmission. Prioritizing targeted interventions for these patient groups may help to prevent further infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyan Zhang
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China
| | - Shaoqi Ning
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China
| | - Luqian Zhang
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Weinan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Weinan, China
| | - Sa Chen
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China.
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Li H, Huang H, Huang W, Du M, Long D, Xu G, Mei W, Huang K. Hepatitis C virus subtype diversity and transmission clusters characteristics among drug users in Zhuhai, South China. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:451. [PMID: 38685009 PMCID: PMC11057121 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09323-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a major public health challenge globally, especially among injecting drug users. China has the world's largest burden of HCV infections. However, little is known about the characteristics of transmission networks among drug user populations. This study aims to investigate the molecular epidemiology and transmission characteristics of HCV infections among drug users in Zhuhai, a bustling port city connecting Mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions. METHODS Participants enrolled in this study were drug users incarcerated at Zhuhai's drug rehabilitation center in 2015. Their sociodemographic and behavioral information, including gender, promiscuity, drug use method, and so forth, was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Plasmas separated from venous blood were analyzed for HCV infection through ELISA and RT-PCR methods to detect anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. The 5'UTR fragment of the HCV genome was amplified and further sequenced for subtype identifications and phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree was inferred using the Maximum Likelihood method based on the Tamura-Nei model, and the transmission cluster network was constructed using Cytoscape3.8.0 software with a threshold of 0.015. Binary logistic regression models were employed to assess the factors associated with HCV infection. RESULTS The overall prevalence of HCV infection among drug users was 44.37%, with approximately 19.69% appearing to clear the HCV virus successfully. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that those aged over 40, engaging in injecting drug use, and being native residents were at heightened risk for HCV infection among drug user cohorts. The predominant HCV subtypes circulating among those drug users were 6a (60.26%), followed by 3b (16.7%), 3a (12.8%), 1b (6.41%) and 1a (3.85%), respectively. Molecular transmission network analysis unveiled the presence of six transmission clusters, with the largest propagation cluster consisting of 41 individuals infected with HCV subtype 6a. Furthermore, distinct transmission clusters involved eight individuals infected with subtype 3b and seven with subtype 3a were also observed. CONCLUSION The genetic transmission networks revealed a complex transmission pattern among drug users in Zhuhai, emphasizing the imperative for a targeted and effective intervention strategy to mitigate HCV dissemination. These insights are pivotal for shaping future national policies on HCV screening, treatment, and prevention in port cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Li
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
- School of Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huitao Huang
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenyan Huang
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Man Du
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongling Long
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Guangxian Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
| | - Wenhua Mei
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
- School of Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Kaisong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
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Christensen KT, Pierard F, Bonsall D, Bowden R, Barnes E, Florence E, Ansari MA, Nguyen D, de Cesare M, Nevens F, Robaeys G, Schrooten Y, Busschots D, Simmonds P, Vandamme AM, Van Wijngaerden E, Dierckx T, Cuypers L, Van Laethem K. Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus Infections in a Large Belgian Cohort Using Next-Generation Sequencing of Full-Length Genomes. Viruses 2023; 15:2391. [PMID: 38140632 PMCID: PMC10747466 DOI: 10.3390/v15122391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic in Western countries is primarily perpetuated by the sub-populations of men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID). Understanding the dynamics of transmission in these communities is crucial for removing the remaining hurdles towards HCV elimination. We sequenced 269 annotated HCV plasma samples using probe enrichment and next-generation sequencing, obtaining 224 open reading frames of HCV (OR497849-OR498072). Maximum likelihood phylogenies were generated on the four most prevalent subtypes in this study (HCV1a, 1b, 3a, 4d) with a subsequent transmission cluster analysis. The highest rate of clustering was observed for HCV4d samples (13/17 (76.47%)). The second highest rate of clustering was observed in HCV1a samples (42/78 (53.85%)) with significant association with HIV-positive MSM. HCV1b and HCV3a had very low rates of clustering (2/83 (2.41%) and (0/29)). The spread of the prevalent subtype HCV1b appears to have been largely curtailed, and we demonstrate the onwards transmission of HCV1a and HCV4d in the HIV-positive MSM population across municipal borders. More systematic data collection and sequencing is needed to allow a better understanding of the HCV transmission among the community of PWID and overcome the remaining barriers for HCV elimination in Belgium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper T. Christensen
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
| | - Florian Pierard
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
| | - David Bonsall
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK;
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.B.); (D.N.); (M.d.C.)
| | - Rory Bowden
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.B.); (D.N.); (M.d.C.)
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK;
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Eric Florence
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium;
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M. Azim Ansari
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK;
| | - Dung Nguyen
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.B.); (D.N.); (M.d.C.)
| | - Mariateresa de Cesare
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; (R.B.); (D.N.); (M.d.C.)
| | - Frederik Nevens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Geert Robaeys
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.N.); (G.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences—LCRC, UHasselt, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium;
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Yoeri Schrooten
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dana Busschots
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences—LCRC, UHasselt, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium;
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Peter Simmonds
- Henry Wellcome Building for Molecular Physiology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK;
| | - Anne-Mieke Vandamme
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eric Van Wijngaerden
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Tim Dierckx
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
| | - Lize Cuypers
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristel Van Laethem
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (F.P.); (Y.S.); (A.-M.V.); (T.D.); (L.C.); (K.V.L.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Yang XC, Hong ZP, Wang Y, Meng N, Hu Y, Xiong QY, Qin DW, Shen D, Yang XL. Growth history of hepatitis C virus among HIV/HCV co-infected patients in Guizhou Province. Front Genet 2023; 14:1171892. [PMID: 37347053 PMCID: PMC10280012 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1171892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The evolutionary and epidemiological history and the regional differences of various hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes are complex. Our aim was to better understand the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of HCV among HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou Province. This information could contribute to improve HCV prevention and control strategies in Guizhou and surrounding provinces. Methods: The HCV RNA was extracted from the serum of HIV/HCV co-infected patients, and reverse transcription/nested PCR was performed to amplify nucleotide sequences of the C-E1 region. Then, the successfully amplified sequences were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The available C-E1 region reference sequences from the surrounding provinces of Guizhou (Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, and Sichuan) were retrieved in GenBank, and the evolutionary analysis by Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm was performed using BEAST software to reconstruct a phylogeographic tree in order to explore their migration patterns. Finally, the epidemiological history of HCV in the Guizhou region was retraced by reconstructing Bayesian skyline plots (BSPs) after excluding sequences from surrounding provinces. Results: Among 186 HIV/HCV co-infected patients, the C-E1 region sequence was successfully amplified in 177 cases. Phylogenetic analysis classified these sequences into six subtypes: 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b, 6a, and 6n. Among them, subtype 6a was the most dominant strain (n = 70), followed by 3b (n = 55), 1b (n = 31), 3a (n = 11), 1a (n = 8), and 6n (n = 2). By reconstructing the phylogeographic tree, we estimated that the 6a strain in Guizhou mainly originated from Yunnan and Guangxi, while the 3b strain emerged due to transmission from the IDU network in Yunnan. Subtypes 1b, 3a, 3b, and 6a, as the major subtypes of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou, emerged and later grew more rapidly than the national average. Notably, BSPs of the currently prevalent HCV predominant strain subtype 6a in Guizhou have shown a rapid population growth since 2004. Although the growth rate slowed down around 2010, this growth has continued to date. Conclusion: Overall, despite the improvement and implementation of a series of HCV prevention and control policies and measures, a delayed growth pattern may indicate a unique history of the spread of 6a in Guizhou. Its trend as the dominant strain in Guizhou in recent years may continue to increase slowly over subsequent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Cheng Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Aba Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Aba, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhang-Ping Hong
- Department of Laboratory, Guiyang Medical Center for Public Health, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Laboratory, Guiyang Medical Center for Public Health, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Nan Meng
- Department of Laboratory, Guiyang Medical Center for Public Health, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Yong Hu
- School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Qian-Yu Xiong
- Department of Laboratory, Guiyang Medical Center for Public Health, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Da-Wen Qin
- School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Du Shen
- School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xing-Lin Yang
- Department of Laboratory, Guiyang Medical Center for Public Health, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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