May Shoshanna, Ngui Siew Lin, Collins Sarah, Lattimore Sam, Ramsay Mary, Tedder Richard S, Ijaz Samreen
Blood Borne Virus Unit, Microbiology Service - Colindale, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
Immunisation, Hepatitis and Blood Safety Department, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
J Clin Virol. 2015 Mar;64:6-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2014.12.014. Epub 2014 Dec 27.
Analysis of laboratory testing data collected through the Sentinel Surveillance programme has provided a method for identifying individuals who have recently acquired their hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Access to samples from these individuals provided a rare opportunity to undertake molecular characterization studies.
To describe the epidemiology and genetic diversity of hepatitis C in recent seroconverter infections and to predict how this will impact on HCV treatment and control.
One hundred and forty seven samples were available from individuals, identified to have recently acquired their HCV infection. Genotype determination with additional phylogenetic analysis was carried out on NS5B sequences. Analysis across the NS3 region investigated the presence of antiviral resistance mutations. Where possible, molecular data was linked to demographic and risk/behavioural factor information.
The majority of new infections occurred in males with a mean age of 37 years. The most commonly observed genotypes were 1a (49%) and 3a (42%) and injecting drug use (58%) was the most common risk factor. Genotype distribution differed between persons who inject drugs and those with other risk factors suggesting two possible epidemics. Phylogenetic analysis indicated possible transmission networks within specific risk groups. Amino acid changes associated with antiviral resistance were noted in the NS3 region in some samples.
Continued surveillance of linked molecular, virological, demographic and epidemiological information on recently acquired infections will contribute to understanding the on-going HCV epidemic in England.
通过哨点监测计划收集的实验室检测数据分析提供了一种识别近期感染丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）个体的方法。获取这些个体的样本为开展分子特征研究提供了难得的机会。
描述近期血清学转换感染者中丙型肝炎的流行病学和基因多样性，并预测这将如何影响HCV的治疗和控制。
从已确定近期感染HCV的个体中获取了147份样本。对NS5B序列进行基因分型并附加系统发育分析。对NS3区域进行分析以调查抗病毒耐药性突变的存在情况。在可能的情况下，将分子数据与人口统计学以及风险/行为因素信息相关联。
大多数新感染发生在平均年龄为37岁的男性中。最常观察到的基因型是1a（49%）和3a（42%），注射吸毒（58%）是最常见的危险因素。注射吸毒者与其他有风险因素者的基因型分布不同，提示可能存在两种不同的流行情况。系统发育分析表明在特定风险组内可能存在传播网络。在一些样本的NS3区域中发现了与抗病毒耐药性相关的氨基酸变化。
持续监测与近期获得性感染相关的分子、病毒学、人口统计学和流行病学信息，将有助于了解英格兰正在发生的HCV流行情况。
