Recognition of hepatitisC virus in a type of drug that is abused by intravenous drug users in Iran

Abstract number: R2257

Tayeri K., Radfar R., Ataei B., Kasaeiyan N., Yaran M.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has now been recognized as a major health problem worldwide and estimated number of infected people is over 170 million people worldwide. Many studies in Iran are reported the intravenous drug users (IDUs) had HCV infection at least between 38% and 47% and in recent several studies higher percentages were reported. HCV can be easily transmitted through blood products and infected syringes, and infection rates are typically high among injecting drug users (IDUs). NORJIZAC (Also known as "handmade temgizac", "Ab Crack (Crack solution") is a slang name of a drug that abused by numbers of Injecting drug users in Iran since 5 years ego. Main Route of using NORJIZAC is via intravenous. In spite of high prevalence of HCV among IDUs, specially NORJIZAC users, many of them haven't given any history of sharing in needles and syringes during injections.

Material and Methods:In a cross sectional study, 14 NORJIZAC vials that were bought from smugglers in different times and different locations within a period of 4 months, were tested for hepatitis C virus. RNA extraction and then C-DNA synthesis by using reverse-transcriptase enzyme and after that Real time PCR with specific primer and probe with tagman probe method, were made on norgizac. All laboratory staff were unaware about the nature of the drug.

Results: 2 of 14 vials were positive for hepatitis C virus with acceptable viral load more than 10000/ml.

Discussion: HCV is estimated to be about 10 times more infectious than HIV per unit of blood required, and therefore, requires less exposure than HIV to reach high prevalence.

Although significant advances have been made in preventing HIV infection among IDUs with harm reduction programs, both prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C remains high among IDUs. One of the most important point about the environmental survival of HCV is prolonged staying of virus in the environment.

Conclusion: Formerly we thought HCV was transmitted during needles and syringes sharing among the injecting drug users, but we had several patients without history of sharing. Results of this study show that NORJIZAC itself could be infected with hepatitis C virus and avoiding of sharing in injections couldn't be enough against accepting HCV during drug using, maybe this event could be occurred in another country.