title: Changing molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Northeast Italy.
abstract: To assess HCV genotype distribution and its determinants, 318 consecutive HCV RNA positive patients were examined. Subtype 1b infection was the most prevalent (35.5%), followed by subtype 1a (22%), 3a (21.4%) and 2 genotype (21.3%). Subtypes 1a, 1b and 3a had a comparable prevalence (30-35%) in the 0-15-, 16-30- and 31-45-year age groups. In subjects older than 45 years, genotype 2 prevalence increased, whereas subtype 1a and 3a infections decreased markedly. In this age group types 1b and 2 accounted for a prevalence of more than 90% in a comparable proportion. Genotype prevalence rates according to different risk factors were different statistically (P < 0.001): subtype 1a and 3a infections were predominant in injection drug users (42.9% and 37.7%, respectively), whereas community acquired infections and infections in patients with a history of transfusion were caused mainly by subtype 1b (38.5% and 66.6%, respectively). Logistic regression showed that age and injection drug use are independent determinants of genotype distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Medicine Sciences, UCO Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Trieste, and IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dal Molin
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ansaldi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: Pierlanfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Agaro
authors.forename: Manola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comar
authors.forename: Lory
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crocè
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tiribelli
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral