title: Most common genotypes and risk factors for HCV in Gaza strip: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present work aims at determining HCV genotypes in patients with chronic HCV infection, in Gaza strip, Palestine. The most common risk factors for HCV transmission were also evaluated in conjunction with the genotyping data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study shows that there are only two major genotypes of HCV in Gaza Strip: Genotype 1 (subtypes 1a and 1b) collectively contribute to 28.3% of the cases, and genotype 4 (subtypes 4a and 4c/d) collectively contribute to 64.1% of the cases. Mixed infection with the two genotypes was also present among 7.6% of the cases. In this study a statistically significant relationship was established between the distribution of these genotypes and the patients' living place, traveling history, history of blood transfusion and history of surgical operations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study is the first to link HCV genotyping in Gaza strip with its possible roots of transmission. Traveling to endemic countries, especially Egypt; blood transfusion and surgical operations are major roots of HCV infection in Gaza strip. The results indicate that iatrogenic and nosocomial procedures may be responsible for the majority of HCV infections in Gaza strip.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Lab, Central Laboratory-Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestinian authority. bayesh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Basim M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ayesh
authors.forename: Sofia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zourob
authors.forename: Salah Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Abu-Jadallah
authors.forename: Yonat
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shemer-Avni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology