Transmission of HIV and HCV within Former Soviet Union Countries.

Feng Yi,Syed Ali,Aizada Bexeitova,Jack DeHovitz,Zhangwen Ge,Sten H. Vermund,Arailym Aldabergenova,Gonzalo Hortelano,Yiming Shao,Lazzat Aibekova

doi:10.1155/2020/9701920

Abstract

Background Following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1991, trans-border mobility increased within the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries. In addition, drug-trafficking and injection drug use began to rise, leading to the propagation and transmission of blood-borne infections within and across the FSU countries. To examine the transmission of blood-borne infections within this region, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of publically available sequences of two blood-borne viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), from FSU countries. Methods We analysed 614 and 295 NS5B sequences from HCV genotypes 1b and 3a, respectively, from 9 FSU countries. From 13 FSU countries, we analysed 347 HIV gag and 1282 HIV env sequences. To examine transmission networks and the origins of infection, respectively, phylogenetic and Bayesian analyses were performed. Results Our analysis shows intermixing of HCV and HIV sequences, suggesting transmission of these viruses both within and across FSU countries. We show involvement of three major populations in transmission: injection drug user, heterosexual, and trans-border migrants. Conclusion This study highlights the need to focus harm reduction efforts toward controlling transmission of blood-borne infections among the abovementioned high-risk populations in the FSU countries.

Highlights

Following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991, the ensuing economic crisis led to poverty and unemployment in the former Soviet republics
High migration rates in the setting of economic destabilization were accompanied by increased rates of injected drug use, facilitating the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the region [2, 3]
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in Eastern Europe, 6.8 million people were estimated in 2015 to be positive for antibodies to HCV (3.3% prevalence) and 4.7 million people were living with chronic HCV (2.3% prevalence; 69% viremia rate), while in Central Asia, these figures were 4.5 million (5.4% prevalence) and 1.9 million (2.3% prevalence; 43% viremia rate) people [5]. e number of Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology people living with HIV in Eastern European and Central Asian (EECA) countries, representing the only region in the world with rising HIV incidence, reached 1.6 million by 2016 [6]

Summary

Introduction

Following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991, the ensuing economic crisis led to poverty and unemployment in the former Soviet republics. High migration rates in the setting of economic destabilization were accompanied by increased rates of injected drug use, facilitating the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the region [2, 3]. Due to their geographic location along drug-trafficking routes from Afghanistan, the main hub of opium production and supply for Russia and Europe, there has been increased trafficking and use of injectable drugs in Central Asia [4]. Conclusion. is study highlights the need to focus harm reduction efforts toward controlling transmission of blood-borne infections among the abovementioned highrisk populations in the FSU countries

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion