title: Molecular epidemiology of different hepatitis C genotypes in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in jahrom city of iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is considered essentially hepatotropic, yet the virus compartments have also been found in important extra hepatic sites. Detection of HCV RNA in extra hepatic reservoirs such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is important for determining disease progression and treatment effectiveness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to determine different HCV genotypes in patients' plasma and PBMC specimens, in Jahrom city of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples of 137 patients with established HCV were collected at the Honari clinic. These patients were anti-HCV and plasma HCV RNA positive. After plasma RNA extraction and obtaining a pellet of approximately 3-5 × 10(6) PBMCs, Real-time PCR was performed, using specific-genotype primers. Finally, data analysis was done by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subtype 3 was the most common genotype in plasma (57.7%) and PBMCs (51.1%). Subtype 1a was detected in 36.5% and 30.7% of plasma samples and PBMCs, respectively whereas subtype 4 was not detected in any of the cases. There was a genotype difference between plasma and PBMCs of 12.4% of patients. In four patients no genotype was detected in their plasma but genotype 3 was detected in the PBMCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that determination of the target genotype by plasma subtyping for choosing the proper antiviral therapy is essential but may result in therapy failure. HCV genotyping in PBMC samples, along with plasma specimens, might be more beneficial. Therefore determining the HCV genotype in PBMCs, before beginning the therapy is useful due to the possibility of occult infection detection.
authors: Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Asghar
authors: A
authors: Ashrafi Hafez
authors: Department of Microbiology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors: Rasoul
authors: R
authors: Baharlou
authors: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Seyed Dawood
authors: SD
authors: Mousavi Nasab
authors: Department of Microbiology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Ahmadi Vasmehjani
authors: Department of Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Shayestehpour
authors: Department of Microbiology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors: Negar
authors: N
authors: Joharinia
authors: Department of Medical Lab Technology and Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Nayeb Ali
authors: NA
authors: Ahmadi
keywords: Genotype; Hepatitis C Virus; Polymerase Chain Reaction