Changing HCV genotypes distribution in Poland--relation to source and time of infection.
BACKGROUND
Understanding the distribution of HCV genotypes has implications for prognosis and therapy of hepatitis C.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the distribution of HCV genotypes in Poland in relation to route of transmission and year of infection.


METHODS
Patients with chronic liver disease were evaluated at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Bialystok (Poland). HCV genotype was determined by means of 5'UTR sequencing and comparison with known sequences of particular genotypes.


RESULTS
The genotypes mostly frequently detected were genotype 1 (57.5%); genotype 3 (31.3%); and genotype 4 (8.4%). Genotype 1 constituted the majority of HCV infections caused by blood transfusion (68.8%) and only 34.8% of HCV infections in the intravenous drug use (IVDU) group (p<0.05). In contrast genotype 3 constituted the majority of HCV infections in the IVDU group (56.5%). We observed a significant increase in the proportion of genotype 3 infections detected after 2000--from 19.1% to 38.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The relative proportion of genotype 1b in Poland has decreased and that of genotype 3a has increased, especially among IVDU.
Chlabicz
Slawomir
S
Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Mieszka I 4 B, 15-054 Białystok, Poland. schlabicz@poczta.onet.pl
Flisiak
Robert
R
Kowalczuk
Oksana
O
Grzeszczuk
Anna
A
Pytel-Krolczuk
Barbara
B
Prokopowicz
Danuta
D
Chyczewski
Lech
L
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral