HCV genotype determination in monoinfected and HIV co-infected patients in Cuba.
With the aim to characterize the HCV genotype distribution in Cuba, sera were collected from two subgroups: HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients. A combination of reverse transcription-PCR using genotype-specific primers, restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing was used to determine the genotype of 84 samples. Seventy-nine (94%) showed single infections (10 [12%] were genotype 1a and 69 [82%] genotype 1b) and 5 (6%) samples corresponded to mixed infections (2 [2%] with genotypes 1a/3a and 1 sample [1%] each with 1b/3a, 1b/4a and 1a/1b/3a). HCV/HIV co-infected subjects had a higher frequency of mixed infections (p=0.08), infection with genotype 3a (p=0.18) and for the first time genotype 4a was found. There was no association of any demographic characteristics with any specific genotype although HCV/HIV co-infected patients showed a tendency to have mixed genotypes in those older than 45 years of age (p=0.11). Phylogenetic analysis showed that HCV isolates clustered with subtypes 1b (n=15, maximal genetic distance 2.51%) and 1a (n=2, maximal genetic distance 0.35%). This report presents the prevalence of HCV genotypes in monoinfected and HIV co-infected patients, mixed HCV infections in HCV/HIV co-infected men who have sex with men with high-risk sexual practices and for the first time identifies that the uncommon genotype 4a can be present in a patient co-infected with HIV.
Institute for Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Department of Virology, National Reference Laboratory on Viral Hepatitis, Havana City, Cuba. licel@ipk.sld.cu
Licel de Los Angeles
Lde L
Rodríguez Lay
Maria Caridad Montalvo
MC
Villalba
Marité Bello
MB
Corredor
Susel Sariego
SS
Frómeta
Jeny Marante
JM
Hernández
Santiago Dueñas
SD
Carrera
Meilin Sánchez
MS
Wong
Marcia
M
Samada
Milay Bello
MB
Núñez
Lidunka Valdes
LV
Alonso
Hermes Pedreira
HP
da Silva Filho
Judith M
JM
Hübschen
Mitermayer G
MG
Reis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D017421:Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral