title: Greater diversity of hepatitis C virus genotypes found in Hong Kong than in mainland China.
abstract: A hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping PCR assay based on type-specific primers was expanded to include genotype 6a as well as genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, and 3a. The nucleotide sequences of a 194-bp fragment in the center of the HCV core gene showed that the homologies between genotype 6a and genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, and 5 were 81.2, 82.1, 73.8, 77.3, 81.4, and 78.9%, respectively. A high degree of homology (99.6%) was seen in the amplified core region among eight clinically unrelated genotype 6a isolates. Although the Hong Kong Chinese patients had predominantly genotype 1b (70%), it was noteworthy that genotype 6a was the second most common genotype (14%). Four other HCV genotypes--1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b--were also present. In contrast, HCV infection by mainland China was confined to genotypes 1b and 2a. Thus, we found a greater diversity of HCV genotypes in Hong Kong than in mainland China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widell
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D017931:DNA Primers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers