ABSTRACT
HCV genomic characterization was performed by nucleotide sequence analysis (n=50) combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 5'UTR region in 82 isolates coresponding to different Argentine groups. Genotype 1 was detected in 70.7 percent of the samples (58 out of 82), genotype 2 in 21.9 percent (18 of 82) and genotypes 3 in the remaining 6 sera (7.3 percent). HCV ib subtype contributed with 35.3 percent to the whole population studied (29 of 82) and was detected in 6 out of 21 sporadic cases. Besides their epidemiological significance, these results should be taken into account when future vaccines are considered on the basis of geographical HCV genotypic prevalence.
Subject(s)
Adult , Middle Aged , Child, Preschool , Child , Female , Humans , Adolescent , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis C, Chronic/blood , Phylogeny , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Argentina , Base Sequence , Genotype , Hepatitis D, Chronic , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk Factors , Sequence Analysis, RNAABSTRACT
HCV genomic characterization was performed by nucleotide sequence analysis (n=50) combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 5UTR region in 82 isolates coresponding to different Argentine groups. Genotype 1 was detected in 70.7 percent of the samples (58 out of 82), genotype 2 in 21.9 percent (18 of 82) and genotypes 3 in the remaining 6 sera (7.3 percent). HCV ib subtype contributed with 35.3 percent to the whole population studied (29 of 82) and was detected in 6 out of 21 sporadic cases. Besides their epidemiological significance, these results should be taken into account when future vaccines are considered on the basis of geographical HCV genotypic prevalence. (AU)