Seroepidemiology and genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Thailand.
HCV can be classified into 6 major genotypes based on the phylogenetic analysis of the genomic sequences. The 3 major genotypes found in Thailand are 3, 1 and 6, respectively. In 2004, an epidemiological survey was carried out to evaluate the seroprevalence of HCV infections among populations aged 2-60 years in four provinces of Thailand, representing the North, Northeast, Center and South of the country, respectively. One hundred and twenty five out of 5,825 serum samples (2.15%) were positive for anti-HCV by ELISA. Fifty eight out of 100 anti-HCV positive samples (58.0%) were positive by RT-PCR of the 5'UTR. The core region of 45 representative samples was sequenced allowing classification into genotype variants 1a (6.7%), 1b (26.7%), 2a (2.2%), 2c (2.2%), 3a (51.1%), 3b (2.2%) and 6 (8.9%). This information might be crucial for public health surveillance and prevention of HCV infection.
Center of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis Research, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Srunthron
S
Sunanchaikarn
Apiradee
A
Theamboonlers
Voranush
V
Chongsrisawat
Pornsak
P
Yoocharoen
Piyanit
P
Tharmaphornpilas
Porpit
P
Warinsathien
Supakarn
S
Sinlaparatsamee
Siriraj
S
Paupunwatana
Kasemporn
K
Chaiear
Sawan
S
Khwanjaipanich
Yong
Y
Poovorawan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies