-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A 62-year-old woman acquired acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after heterosexual contact with a known HCV positive former injecting drug user. There were no known sexual or other risk factors for HCV acquisition. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the case and index were infected with identical genotype 3a strains, consistent with heterosexual transmission in the absence of specific risk factors.
Journal of clinical virology: the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology 09/2010; 49(1):65-8. · 3.12 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia, over 225,000 people have been diagnosed with HCV infection with 13,000 infections reported annually; 90% are attributed to injecting drug use. Burnet Institute (BI) researchers have been studying the HCV epidemic since the virus was identified in 1989 including community based cohort studies (1990-1995), numerous studies involving Vietnamese-Australian people who inject drugs (PWID) (1996-2004) and social network studies (2000-2002, 2005-2007). Through this work the BI has developed a model of research practice for HCV and PWID, developed in recognition that much research relating to BBV infections - and HCV in particular - could be improved in terms of provision of test results to study participants. Our model endeavours to provide all participants with the highest quality HCV test results, delivered in accordance with best practice for pre- and post-test counselling by engaging participants in environments in which they are comfortable, building trust and rapport and being available throughout and beyond the research study. This paper will discuss the benefits and lessons learned over numerous studies in providing pre- and post-test counselling to PWID in an outreach capacity.
The International journal on drug policy 03/2008; 19(1):66-70. · 2.54 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Six major genotypes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been described; it is assumed to be uncommon for genotypes to change in chronically infected individuals. Venous blood samples obtained from Vietnamese-Australian injecting drug users who participated in successive studies conducted in Melbourne, Australia, were genotyped using the Bayer line probe assay and genotype confirmed by sequencing whenever possible. Three changes of HCV genotype were observed, and one infection in an individual not exposed previously. The rate of change of genotype was 3 in 11.4 person-years (py), or 26.4 per 100 py (95% CI: 8.5, 81.6). Traditionally-calculated HCV incidence was 1 in 4.3 py, or 23.3 per 100 py (95% CI: 3.3, 165.1). These data imply that HCV genotype change in injecting drug users occurs at least as frequently as infections in naive individuals, and that traditionally-calculated HCV incidence rates represent a minority of actual HCV transmission among practicing injecting drug users.
Journal of Medical Virology 01/2005; 74(4):543-5. · 2.82 Impact Factor
