[Variants of hepatitis C virus in different risk groups. Comparative study of a method for genotyping and another for serotyping].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of the different variants of HCV in the Health Care area of Monforte de Lemos (Lugo, Spain) and its distribution according to risk factors and to compare the results obtained with one genotyping and one serotyping technique.


METHODS
Eighty-four patients with hepatitis C were studied, 25 of whom were IVDA, 14 had received blood transfusions, 4 hemodialysis and the risk factor was unknown in 41. The antibodies against HCV were studied by second generation EIA and confirmed by an immunoblot technique. Serotyping was carried out by an ELISA test. Genotyping was undertaken with a reverse hybridation test of the amplification obtained by polymerase chain reaction prior to reverse transcription (RT-PCR).


CONCLUSIONS
The genotypes most frequently observed were 1b (47.6%), 1a (20.2%) and 3 (14.3%). In the IVDA patients the genotypes 1a (40%) and 3 (24%) predominated. The 1b genotype was the most prevalent in the patients of unknown risk (68.3%) and patients with a history of blood transfusion (50%). The prevalence of the different serotypes was similar to that of the corresponding genotypes, with nearly 100% agreement. The number of untypable cases was greater in the serotyping technique (20.2%) than in the genotyping (2.4%). A greater number of mixed infections was detected with serotyping (7 cases, 8.3%) than with genotyping (1 case, 1.2%). Lesser sensitivity of the serotyping test was observed in the patients lacking anti-NS4 antibodies.
Alonso
P
P
Hospital Comarcal de Monforte de Lemos, Lugo.
Orduña
A
A
San Miguel
A
A
Gutiérrez
M P
MP
Lorenzo
B
B
Eiros
J M
JM
Bratos
M A
MA
Cuervo
M
M
Rodríguez Torres
A
A
D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015897:Comorbidity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
Variantes del virus de la hepatitis C en diferentes grupos de riesgo. Estudio comparativo de un método de genotipificación y otro de serotipificación.