Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits global genotypic diversity. HCV genotyping plays an important role in epidemiological studies and clinical management. Herein, we report the results of HCV genotype and subtype detection in a large number of clinical samples, as performed by an independent laboratory in China. In total, four HCV genotypes and 18 subtypes were identified among 32 030 patients from 29 provinces and municipalities in China. Five dominant subtypes were detected from 98.84% of the samples: 1b (n=16 713, 52.18%), 2a (n=9188, 28.69%), 3b (n=2261, 7.06%), 6a (n=2052, 6.41%) and 3a (n=1479, 4.62%). Twelve rare subtypes were detected, of which four (that is, 6b, 6j, 6q and 6r) are reported for the first time in the Chinese population. Genotypes 4, 5 and 7 were not detected. Mixed infections of the dominant subtypes were found in a small portion of samples (n=65, 0.203%), in the following combinations: 1b–2a, 1b–3b, 1b–6a, 3a–3b, 1b–3a and 2a–6a. No mixed infections with rare subtypes were found. Males, compared with females, showed higher HCV subtype diversity, a lower percentage of HCV1b and 2a and a higher percentage of rare subtypes and mixed infections. Our analyses revealed the comprehensive distribution patterns of HCV genotypes in the general population of mainland China. HCV genotypic patterns were differentially distributed on the basis of geography, sex and age.

Emerging Microbes & Infections (2017) 6, e95; doi:10.1038/emi.2017.77; published online 1 November 2017

Details

Title
Hepatitis C virus genotypes and subtypes circulating in Mainland China
Author
Chen, Ying 1 ; Yu, Changshun 1 ; Yin, Xueru 2 ; Guo, Xiaolei 3 ; Wu, Shangwei 1 ; Hou, Jinlin 2 

 Guangzhou Kingmed Center for Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou, China; College of Laboratory Medicine Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China 
 Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China 
 Guangzhou Kingmed Center for Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou, China 
Pages
1-7
Publication year
2017
Publication date
Jan 2017
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
e-ISSN
22221751
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2516722312
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2017. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.