Differences in HCV antibody patterns in haemodialysis patients infected with the same virus isolate

Abstract

Eight cases of de novo hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a haemodialysis unit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were retrospectively studied. HCV viraemia was demonstrated by RT nested PCR in seven of the seroconverters. Genotyping showed that six patients were infected with a genotype 1b strain and one with a genotype 1a strain. A phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the HCV core region revealed that five of the six 1b isolates form a separate cluster when compared with other 38 HCV 1b core sequences randomly chosen from the GenBank. The revealed sequence similarities indicated the nosocomial spread of a single HCV strain within the unit. To investigate whether the patients infected with the same viral isolate display similar patterns of antibody response to individual proteins, serial serum samples were examined. A line immunoassay for qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of specific antibodies against recombinant and synthetic HCV antigens was employed. Despite infection with the same virus strain, the patients sera demonstrated different patterns of reactivity against individual structural and nonstructural HCV proteins immediately after seroconversion. For each patient, however, antibody responses remained mostly stable throughout the follow-up of 8 to 24 months.

Incident Hepatitis C Virus in Women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

“…The interval between the detection of HCV viremia and the development of HCV antibodies is usually 6-8 weeks, with some cases taking up to 6-12 months [18]. A number of studies have previously suggested that the development of antibody to HCV may be significantly delayed in immunocompromised individuals [18][19][20][21]. Beld et al [22] reported on 5 individuals, none of whom were HIV-1 infected, who had low-grade HCV viremia without seroconversion for a mean of 40.3 months.…”

Epidemiological and genetic analyses of Hepatitis C virus transmission among young/short- and long-term injecting drug users from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Detection of 5 NCR HCV-RNA was performed as previously described. 17 For NS5b, one-step PCR was carried out using the SuperScript TM III One-Step RT-PCR System (Invitrogen). Termocycling conditions consisted of 1 cycle-42 • C/45 min; followed by 1 cycle-95 • C/4 min; 40 cycles-95 • C/20 s; 54 • C/30 s; 72 • C/1 min and a final extension cycle (72 • C/10 min).…”

"The first shot": the context of first injection of illicit drugs, ongoing injecting practices, and hepatitis C infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Final results were given based on the concordance between at least two of the three replicates. HCV-positive samples were further submitted to HCV-RNA detection by nested polymerase chain reaction, and HCV genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, as described elsewhere 21 . All samples were also tested for HBV serological markers and HIV infection 13,22 .…”