title: Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Córdoba, Argentina. Unexpected high prevalence of genotype 2.
abstract: To determine hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes circulating in the central region of Argentina, 96 consecutive anti-HCV positive subjects were studied. The presence of HCV RNA was detected in 60 samples by RT-nested PCR of the 5' noncoding region (5' NCR). Genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 5' NCR region combined with PCR using type-specific primers of the core region. The groups of individuals in this study included hemophilia and hemodialysis patients, injecting drug users, screened blood donors, and patients with acute or chronic liver disease, all from Córdoba, Argentina. Overall, genotype 2 was the most prevalent (55.0%), followed by genotypes 1 (38.3%), and 3 (5.0%). Within genotype 1, subtype 1b was the most prevalent. An unexpected high prevalence of genotype 2 (61.9%) was found among patients with acute or chronic HCV infection (without known risk factors). These figures differ from other cohorts from East-Argentina where genotype 1 has been found as the most prevalent. This indicates that regional differences of genotype distribution might exist between Central and East Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. contigia@cmefcm.uncor.edu
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Clara Fumiko
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Jaqueline Mendes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis-Ximénez
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinsanti
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elbarcha
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contigiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies