title: Heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 strains circulating in south-western France.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease. Knowledge of HCV variability is crucial for clinical and epidemiological analysis. HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) has become increasingly prevalent in European countries, including France, in recent years. The present study investigates the heterogeneity of HCV-4 in south-western France by phylogenetic analysis of NS5B sequences from 166 patients. The E2 region of 90 strains was also analysed. Genotype 4 accounts for 7.4 % of HCV infections in this area. Analysis of the NS5B region revealed 12 subtypes and the NS5B and E2 phylogeny data were congruent, except for one strain. The epidemiological data indicated two main groups of patients. One included intravenous drug users (IVDUs) of French origin, who were infected by homogeneous strains of subtypes 4a or 4d. The second group comprised non-IVDU patients who were infected with heterogeneous strains. This group was subdivided into patients of French origin, who were infected with eight subtypes, and patients from non-European countries (Central Africa or the Middle East), who were mainly infected with 4f, 4k, 4r and other subtypes; they showed the greatest genetic heterogeneity. This study of a large cohort of patients shows the great diversity of HCV-4 strains, and that these subtypes have spread differently.
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicot
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Legrand-Abravanel
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandres-Saune
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boulestin
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alric
authors.affiliation: Service de Gastro-entérologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vinel
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, Hôpital Purpan, EA2046-IFR30, CHU Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase