•  
  •  
 

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-1405-43

Abstract

Background/aim: The frequency of genotype 4 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections is significantly higher in Kayseri compared to other provinces in Turkey. We aimed to characterize genotype 4 infections in Kayseri by analyzing the demographic and laboratory data of 218 HCV RNA-positive, treatment-naive patients admitted to the Kayseri Training and Research Hospital in 2010 and 2011. Materials and methods: The distributions of sex, age, and viral loads of these patients with respect to HCV genotypes were analyzed. We also characterized the type 4 sequences at the subtype level. Randomly selected sera from 32 of the 72 genotype 4 patients from this cohort were subjected to PCR amplification in the NS5B region and further characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic and molecular clock analysis. Results: Distribution rates of HCV genotypes 1, 4, and 2 in the 218 patients were 62.4%, 33.0%, and 4.6%, respectively. Most of the patients infected with types 1 and 4 were over the age of 40 and female. The NS5B sequences of 32 Kayseri genotype 4 isolates were closely related with type 4d sequences but formed a separate cluster. Conclusion: The introduction of type 4d HCV into the Kayseri region probably took place 30-75 years ago, as predicted by molecular clock analysis.

Keywords

Hepatitis C virus, genotype 4d, phylogenetic analysis, Kayseri, Turkey

First Page

547

Last Page

552

Download

Share

COinS