OBJECTIVETo confirm the close relationship of high co-infection rate between HIV and hepatitis virus in intravenous drug users (i.v.DUs).

METHODSAnti-HIV, HBV and HCV were detected by ELISA in the serum from 35 scattered and 15 massed i.v.DUs. PCR and RT-PCR were performed to confirm the infection of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV among the 15 massed intravenous drug abusers.

RESULTSAmong the 50 i.v.DUs, the positive rates of anti-HCV1 HBsAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were 92% (46/50), 12% (6/50), 10% (5/50) and 66% (33/50), respectively. In the samples of HBsAg positive, their HBeAg was also positive. Although the positive rate of serum markers was different in the massed i.v.DUs compared to the scattered i.v.DUs, no significant difference was shown. In the cases of massed i.v.DUs, the positive rates of HIV DNA, HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, HGV-RNA, and TTV-DNA were 100% (15/15), 26.6% (4/15), 53.3% (8/15), 33.3% (5/15) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively. Among the 15 massed intravenous drug users, one was infected with HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV; two were infected with HIV, HBV, HCV and HGV; three were infected only with HIV; and the remaining had other forms of co-infection.

CONCLUSIONThe co-infection rate of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV in intravenous drug users is very high.