[Characterization of hepatitis C virus in chronic hepatitis patients: genotypes in the State of Amazonas, Brazil].
BACKGROUND
In the State of Amazonas, data regarding the prevalence of different genotypes of hepatitis C virus remains scarce.


METHODS
The genotype of 69 HCV positive patients was determined. An in-house standardized nested-PCR was used to detect HCV RNA. Genotype assignment was based on type-specific motifs on the sequenced amplicons delimited by primers HC11/HC18 from the 5' untranslated region.


RESULTS
Of the 69 patients studied, 65.2% were male and 34.8% were female. Genotype 1 showed the greatest prevalence, followed by 3 and 2.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggesting that Manaus is the point of arrival of HCV in the State of Amazonas.
Fundação de Medicina Tropical do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
Ana Ruth
AR
Araújo
Carlos Mauríco de
CM
Almeida
Liziara
L
Fraporti
Nadja
N
Garcia
Tatiane Amábili de
TA
Lima
Laura Patrícia Viana
LP
Maia
Kátia Luz
KL
Torres
Andréa Monteiro
AM
Tarragô
Flamir
F
Victória
Marilu
M
Victória
Adriana
A
Tateno
José Eduardo
JE
Levi
Sinésio
S
Talhari
Adriana
A
Malheiro
D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012367:RNA, Viral