title: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Bushehr province, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very important for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in Bushehr province (South West of Iran).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 patients who were detected as positive for HCV antibody (by using ELISA method and RIBA test) referred to Arya Virology Laboratory between 2007-2009 in order to molecular diagnosis and furthermore virus genotyping. After detection of HCV, RNA genotyping of virus was done by using genotype specific primers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype 1a was found in 49% of the patients and genotype 3a was found in 40% of the patients and 1b in 5% of patients, while the genotype of the virus could not be identified in 5% of the patients. Finally, in 1% of patients coinfection due to 1a-3a genotypes was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dominant genotype of HCV in Bushehr province, Iran, was determined as 1a.
authors.affiliation: The Persian Gulf Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vahdat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tabib
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rostamabadi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Valizadeh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheraghi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shamsian
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zandi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology