title: Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Australia.
abstract: The relative distribution of Australian hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes was determined for 500 isolates. Genotyping was performed using a commercial reverse phase hybridization assay after amplification of the 5' untranslated region of HCV by the polymerase chain reaction. Australian isolates comprised, predominantly, genotype 1 (55%) and genotype 3 (38%) with genotype 2 accounting for only 7%. Genotype 3a was the most common subtype. When the major risk groups of injecting drug users or transfusion-acquired hepatitis C were compared, there was a significantly higher incidence of genotype 1b in the transfusion-acquired group (P < 0.03). When the age of the patients was analysed, genotype 3a was more prevalent in the 21-40-year age group than the 41-60-year age group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in genotype distribution between males and females. HCV genotypes 1, 2 and 3 are most often found in developed countries but the relatively high prevalence of genotype 3a in Australia is unusual.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Fairfield, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCaw
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moaven
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Locarnini
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics