title: Tracing the spread of hepatitis C virus in Turkey: a phylogenetic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows that HCV genotypes are unique with respect to their nucleotide sequence, geographical distribution and clinical relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we enrolled 67 HCV-infected individuals with various stages of liver disease from four geographical regions of Turkey. A partial NS5B region of the HCV genome was sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to determine the circulating HCV genotypes and subtypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that HCV genotype 1 (subtype1b) is the main genetic variant of HCV in Turkey but did not reveal any Turkish indigenous phylogenetic cluster. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Turkish strains have their closest matches from both Asia (Japan) and Europe/USA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of Turkey's geographic position, HCV-1b transmission from Europe is not exceptional. This study could not establish a clear role of other HCV genotypes prevalent in neighboring Asian countries in Turkey's HCV transmission, which would need to be confirmed by further regional epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunbul
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kurbanov
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leblebicioglu
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase