title: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in the Caribbean island of Martinique: evidence for a large radiation of HCV-2 and for a recent introduction from Europe of HCV-4.
abstract: Molecular epidemiological studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Caribbean may help to specify the origin and spread of HCV infection. Indeed, the Caribbean population is intermixed from European and African origins and geographically close to the American continent. We characterized HCV genotypes in the Caribbean island of Martinique. HCV genotypes were analyzed by sequencing or reverse hybridization in the 5' noncoding region (5'NC) in 250 HCV-monoinfected and 85 HCV-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients. In addition, sequencing in the nonstructural 5B (NS5B) gene was required to determine the subtype or to perform phylogenetic analysis in selected samples. Genotypes 1 to 6 were found, respectively, in 84.4, 6.8, 5.2, 2.8, 0.4, and 0.4% of 250 HCV-monoinfected patients and in 71.7, 7.1, 15.3, 5.9, 0, and 0% of 85 HCV-HIV-coinfected patients. HCV-1b was found in 66.4% of the HCV-monoinfected patients and was associated with blood transfusion, whereas HCV-1a was detected in 41.2% of the HCV-HIV-coinfected patients and was associated with intravenous drug use (IVDU). The HCV-3 strains belonged to subtype 3a and were linked to IVDU. Phylogenetic analyses were focused on HCV-2 and HCV-4, which are common in Africa. Two opposite patterns were evidenced. NS5B sequences from 19 HCV-2 isolates were affiliated with many different subtypes described either in Europe or in West Africa, suggesting an ancient radiation. In contrast, seven of the nine HCV-4 NS5B sequences ranged within HCV-4a and HCV-4d clusters spreading in continental France by the IVDU route. Epidemiological data demonstrate the recent introduction of HCV-4a and -4d subtypes into the Caribbean.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie-Immunologie. Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Université Paris 13, Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martial
authors.forename: Yoann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morice
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabié
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rat
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edouard
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierre-Louis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garsaud
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Béra
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chout
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gordien
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deny
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Césaire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008395:Martinique / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral