Genotyping of hepatitis C virus in the Dominican Republic

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1997 Dec;57(6):719-22. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1997.57.719.

Abstract

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) of liver disease patients in the Dominican Republic was performed. Eighty-four samples positive for HCV antibody, which were confirmed by ELISA, particle agglutination, and recombinant immunoblot assay III tests, were subjected to HCV genotyping by polymerase chain reaction using type-specific primers located in the nonstructural protein 5 region. Of the 84 samples tested, 50 (59%) were found to have genotype 1a/I and this genotype was the most frequent type detected in the present study. The numbers of isolates of genotypes 1b/II, 2a/III, 2b/IV, and 3a/V were three (3.6%) six (7.1%), two (2.4%), and two 2.4%), respectively. The number of samples having mixed genotype populations was 16 (19%). The possible causes of the high prevalence of genotype 1a/I in the Dominican Republic compared with other countries and of the high detection ratio of samples having mixed genotypes are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • DNA, Complementary / analysis*
  • Dominican Republic / epidemiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / immunology
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / immunology
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / epidemiology
  • Liver Diseases / virology
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins