title: Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among different exposure categories in the State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies concerning HCV genotypic distribution in the Brazilian Amazon are scarce. Thus, this study determined the patterns of distribution of HCV genotypes among different exposure categories in the State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 312 HCV-infected individuals belonging to different categories of exposure, who were attended at the HEMOPA, CENPREN and a private hemodialysis clinic in Belém. They were tested for HCV antibodies using an immunoenzymatic test, RNA-HCV, using real-time PCR and HCV genotyping through phylogenetic analysis of the 5' UTR. The population groups were epidemiologically characterized according to data collected in a brief interview or medical consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genotype 1 predominated in all the different categories of HCV exposure. HCV genotypic distribution among blood donors comprised genotypes 1 (94%) and 3 (6%). All patients with chronic hematologic diseases had HCV genotype 1. The genotypic distribution in illicit-drug users comprised genotypes 1 (59.6%) and 3 (40.4%). In patients under hemodialysis, genotypes 1 (90.1%), 2 (3.3%), and 3 (6.6%) were detected. Finally, the frequency of genotypes 1 and 3 was significantly different between the groups: BD and DU, PUH and DU, PUH and PCHD and PCHD and DU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The genotypic frequency and distribution of HCV in different categories of exposure in the State of Pará showed a predominance of genotype 1, regardless of the possible risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Andréia Cristina Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Locks
authors.forename: Adriana do Socorro Coelho
authors.initials: Ado S
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Priscila Rocha
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Deborah Maia
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: José Ângelo Barletta
authors.initials: JÂ
authors.lastname: Crescente
authors.forename: José Alexandre Rodrigues de
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Aldemir Branco de
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Oliveira Filho
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral