Comparison of HIV-, HBV-, HCV- and Co-Infection Prevalence between Chinese and Burmese Intravenous Drug Users of the China-Myanmar Border Region

Abstract

BackgroundCo-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV is highly prevalent in intravenous drug users (IDUs). Because of the proximity to the “Golden Triangle”, HIV prevalence among the IDUs is very high in the China-Myanmar border region. However, there are few studies about co-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV, especially in the region that belongs to Myanmar.Methods721 IDUs, including 403 Chinese and 318 Burmese, were investigated for their HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological status. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the differences of the epidemic situation between the Chinese IDUs and the Burmese IDUs.ResultsAmong the Chinese IDUs and the Burmese IDUs, HCV infection was the most prevalent (69.0% vs 48.1%, P<0.001), followed by HBV (51.6% vs 43.1%, P<0.05) and HIV (33.7% vs 27.0%, P>0.05). Besides, there were more HIV-HBV co-infected IDUs (20.1% vs 11.3%, P<0.005), and HIV-HCV co-infected IDUs (31.8% vs 23.9%, P<0.05) in China than in Myanmar, as well as HIV-HBV-HCV triple infection (19.1% vs 10.4%, P<0.005).ConclusionCo-infection with HIV and HCV and/or HBV is highly prevalent among the IDUs in the China-Myanmar border region. The HIV epidemic appears to be in a downward trend, compared with previous reports. However, all infections were more prevalent among the Chinese IDUs than among the Burmese.

Burmese injecting drug users in Yunnan play a pivotal role in the cross-border transmission of HIV-1 in the China-Myanmar border region

“…Although the HIV prevalence among Chinese IDUs in the China-Myanmar border region was controlled at a relatively low level (8.9%), Burmese IDUs in Northern Myanmar still maintained a high HIV prevalence (13.1%) [5,31]. In this study, we revealed that the HIV-1 prevalence among migrant IDUs (Yunnan-mIDUs) was 19.0%, similar to the prevalence found in previous studies [13,32]. These results imply that migrant IDUs in the border region might be a great burden for Yunnan in the control of HIV/AIDS.…”

“…HIV and HCV share the same transmission routes. Almost all HIV-positive IDUs were HCV-positive, while approximately 70% of the HCV-positive IDUs were HIV-positive [32,34]. Although it was unclear whether the differences in the transmission patterns of HCV and HIV-1 reflected different stages of Yunnan-mIDUs’ stay in Yunnan, Yunnan-mIDUs were believed to preferentially form a relatively isolated independent group of injecting drug users separate from Chinese IDUs, possibly because of the unfamiliar environment and lack of interpersonal relationships at early stages of their stay in Yunnan.…”

Triple positivity of HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody, and HIV and their influence on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of Abeokuta, Nigeria

“…Several studies have proposed that human immunodeficiency virus can fast-track the usual sequence of long-lasting HCV and/or HBV 13 . Earlier studies devise that persons with long-lasting HCV/HBV and HIV will experience swift advancement besides being prone to death in comparison with non-HIV infected persons 13 .…”

“…Long-lasting infections with HIV, HBV, and HCV are major public health problems 6 which may potentially be as a result of virological interactions and could have an underlying immunological mechanism 4,[9][10] . Dual infections with HIV/HBV or HIV/HCV and triple infections with HIV/HBV/HCV is also vastly prevailing among intravenous drug users (IDUs) [11][12][13] . Amongst the transmissible blood-borne viruses through the parenteral route (blood transfusion and sexual intercourse), HIV, HBV and HCV are significant and have numerous consequences 6,[13][14][15] .…”

“…Dual infections with HIV/HBV or HIV/HCV and triple infections with HIV/HBV/HCV is also vastly prevailing among intravenous drug users (IDUs) [11][12][13] . Amongst the transmissible blood-borne viruses through the parenteral route (blood transfusion and sexual intercourse), HIV, HBV and HCV are significant and have numerous consequences 6,[13][14][15] . However, epidemiology of HIV-HBV-HCV triple infections varies as a result of differences in background of hepatitis infections and routes of HIV transmission 16 .…”