title: Heads or Tails: Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus Concerning the 2k/1b Circulating Recombinant Form.
abstract: As different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes respond differently to initiated therapy, correct HCV genotyping is essential. A potential risk for misclassification of the intergenotypic HCV circulating recombinant form (CRF) 2k/1b strains exists, depending on the genotyping method used. The aim was to investigate the differences in HCV genotyping methods with regard to CRF 2k/1b and to gain insight in the prevalence of the CRF 2k/1b. Genotyping results by Versant HCV Genotype Assay were compared with nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) sequencing. In total, from November 2001 until March 2015, 3296 serum samples were analyzed by Versant HCV Genotype Assay. As misclassified CRF is harbored among HCV genotype 2, we further focused our search on 142 (4.3%) samples positive for HCV genotype 2. On 116 (81.7%) retrieved samples, the NS5B sequencing was performed. Twelve out of the 116 retrieved samples (10.3%) were classified as CRF 2k/1b by sequencing of the NS5B region. Ten of these 12 samples were originally misclassified as genotype 2a or 2c, while 2 of them were misclassified as genotype 2. Our results show that the current prevalence of CRF 2k/1b is underestimated. The importance of correct HCV genotyping is emphasized, considering the tailored choice of treatment regimen and overall prognosis.
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Wim.Schuermans@ugent.be.
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Schuermans
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend, Bruges 8000, Belgium. Hans.Orlent@azsintjan.be.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Orlent
authors: Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Isabelle.Desombere@UGent.be.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Desombere
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend, Bruges 8000, Belgium. Patrick.Descheemaeker@azsintjan.be.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Descheemaeker
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 8000, Belgium. Hans.VanVlierberghe@uzgent.be.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Van Vlierberghe
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 8000, Belgium. Anja.Geerts@ugent.be.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Geerts
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 8000, Belgium. Xavier.Verhelst@uzgent.be.
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Verhelst
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend, Bruges 8000, Belgium. Marijke.Reynders@azsintjan.be.
authors: Marijke
authors: M
authors: Reynders
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University and Hospital, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Elizaveta.Padalko@uzgent.be.|School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium. Elizaveta.Padalko@uzgent.be.
authors: Elizaveta
authors: E
authors: Padalko
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins
keywords: CRF 2k/1b; HCV; genotype; misclassification; sequencing