Genotyping of hepatitis C virus in the Dominican Republic.
Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) of liver disease patients in the Dominican Republic was performed. Eighty-four samples positive for HCV antibody, which were confirmed by ELISA, particle agglutination, and recombinant immunoblot assay III tests, were subjected to HCV genotyping by polymerase chain reaction using type-specific primers located in the nonstructural protein 5 region. Of the 84 samples tested, 50 (59%) were found to have genotype 1a/I and this genotype was the most frequent type detected in the present study. The numbers of isolates of genotypes 1b/II, 2a/III, 2b/IV, and 3a/V were three (3.6%) six (7.1%), two (2.4%), and two 2.4%), respectively. The number of samples having mixed genotype populations was 16 (19%). The possible causes of the high prevalence of genotype 1a/I in the Dominican Republic compared with other countries and of the high detection ratio of samples having mixed genotypes are discussed.
Nishizono
A
A
Department of Microbiology, Oita Medical University, Japan.
Terao
H
H
Shutoh
R
R
Nasu
M
M
Mifune
K
K
Wun
B J
BJ
Montas
B
B
Fernandez
F S
FS
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis*; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins