title: Epidemiological features and specificities of HCV infection: a hospital-based cohort study in a university medical center of Calabria region.
abstract: The epidemiological status of HCV in Europe, and in particular in Mediterranean countries, is continuously evolving. The genotype distribution is related to improvement of healthcare conditions, expansion of intravenous drug use and immigration. We review and characterize the epidemiology of the distribution of HCV genotypes within Calabria, an area of Southern Italy. We focus on the pattern of distinct HCV genotype changes over the last 16 years; particularly subtype 1b and genotype 4. We collected data by evaluating a hospital-based cohort of chronic hepatitis C patients; in addition, we report an update including new patients enrolled during last eight months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. mliberto@unicz.it
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liberto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marascio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zicca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matera
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged