title: High genetic diversity including potential new subtypes of hepatitis C virus genotype 6 in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
abstract: Sera from 105 anti-HCV-positive first-time blood donors collected in 2004, 2005 and 2008 in different provinces in Laos were investigated by PCR. Forty-five samples were positive for HCV (42.86%); two belonged to subtype 1b (2/45, 4.4%) and all others to genotype 6 (43/45, 95.6%), including subtypes 6b, 6h, 6k, 6l, 6n and 6q. Three groups of sequences were not clearly attributable to any genotype 6 subtype, two of which may be regarded as candidates for new subtypes of genotype 6. Two samples were mixed infected with different subtypes or clusters of genotype 6 viruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Centre de Recherche Public-Santé/Laboratoire National de Santé, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hübschen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jutavijittum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thammavong
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Samountry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yousukh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toriyama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sausy
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral