title: [Molecular characterization of hepatitis C virus in patients referred to a reference laboratory of public health, University Hospital "Antonio Patricio de Alcalá", Cumani, Venezuela].
abstract: The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 170 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study evaluated the presence of antibodies against HCV by two immunoassays. HCV genotypes were analyzed by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome fragments amplified from the 5 'non-coding (5'NC) region and non-structural region 5b (NS5b), using reverse transcription and nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in patients referred from January 2010 to February 2013 to the Reference Laboratory of Public Health, University Hospital "Antonio Patricio de Alcalá". The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 0.57% (17/3005), being the group of patients older than 41 years the most affected (0.9%). A total of 16 samples were found positive for HCV RNA by RT-PCR in the 5'NC region (16/17, 94%). Phylogenetic analysis of the 5'NC region allowed to identify the circulation of genotypes 2 and 1, and one genotype 3 and one 4. By phylogenetic analysis of the NS5b region, diverse subtypes of HCV genotype 2 were identified (2a, 2j and 2s). This finding is in accordance with previous studies that indicate that this genotype is relatively diverse in our country.
authors.forename: María Zulay
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Sulbarán
authors.forename: Lérida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montaño
authors.forename: Yoneira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sulbarán
authors.forename: Carmen Luisa
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Carmen Rosa
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Yurviris
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Farías
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Genny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guillen
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rangel
authors.forename: Flor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011634:Public Health; D014687:Venezuela; D055815:Young Adult