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ABSTRACT: Background
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) emerged as sexually transmitted infection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). We studied whether HCV circulated in identifiable high-risk MSM subcultures and performed phylogenetic analysis.Methods
HIV-infected MSM were recruited at the sexually transmitted infections (STI) outpatient clinic and a university HIV clinic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2008-2009. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire and were tested for HCV antibodies and RNA, with NS5B regions sequenced for analysis of clusters.Results
Among 786 participants, the median age was 43 (IQR 37-48) years, and 93 (11.8%) were HCV-positive. Seropositivity was associated with belonging to subcultures identified as leather (aOR 2.60; 95% CI 1.56-4.33), rubber/lycra (aOR 2.15; 95% CI 1.10-4.21), or jeans (aOR 2.23; 95% CI 1.41-3.54). The two largest HCV-RNA monophyletic clusters were compared; MSM in cluster I (genotype 1a, n?=?13) reported more partners (P?=?0.037) than MSM in cluster II (genotype 4d, n?=?14), but demographics, subculture characteristics and other risk behaviors did not differ significantly between the two clusters.Discussion
HCV infection is associated with identifiable groups of leather/rubber/lycra/jeans subcultures among HIV-infected MSM. Separate epidemiological HCV transmission networks were not revealed. Active HCV screening and treatment within specific subcultures may reduce HCV spread among all MSM.
SUBMITTER: Matser A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3587624 | biostudies-literature | 2013
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Matser Amy A Vanhommerig Joost J Schim van der Loeff Maarten F MF Geskus Ronald B RB de Vries Henry J C HJ Prins Jan M JM Prins Maria M Bruisten Sylvia M SM
PloS one 20130304 3
<h4>Background</h4>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) emerged as sexually transmitted infection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). We studied whether HCV circulated in identifiable high-risk MSM subcultures and performed phylogenetic analysis.<h4>Methods</h4>HIV-infected MSM were recruited at the sexually transmitted infections (STI) outpatient clinic and a university HIV clinic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2008-2009. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire and were tested for HC ...[more]