title: Genotype Distribution and Prevalence of Human Pegivirus among High-Risk Populations in Tunisia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A recently discovered non-A-E hepatitis virus has been designated as human Pegivirus (HPgV). HPgV is prevalent in high-risk groups such as patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and it is of interest for patients who are at risk for transmitted infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPgV as well as the genotype distribution among patients in the Tunisian population who are infected with HCV and also in multitransfused patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 144 patients were screened using RTPCR/nested PCR of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR); 14 cases were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven (14.9%) subjects from the multitransfused group and 7 (7.2%) patients infected with HCV, respectively, were found positive for HPgV RNA. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 14 cases revealed that genotype 2a was the main genotype circulating in Tunisian patients. Genotype 2b was found in the amplified samples of 2 HCV-infected patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study enriches the limited data on HPgV prevalence in Tunisia, and shows, for the first time, the molecular epidemiology of the circulating strains in this country.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Pasteur Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Dhifallah
authors.forename: Kaouther
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ayouni
authors.forename: Anissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chouiha
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadraoui
authors.forename: Nahed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hogga
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Ahlem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Yahya
authors.forename: Henda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Triki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D029405:GB virus A / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral