Genotypes of the Hepatitis C Virus in Infected Patients in Hohhot, China.

Abstract

We wished to identify the existing HCV genotypes in diagnosed cases of infection by the hepatitis C virus in Hohhot (China) to offer basic data for the treatment and prevention of HCV infection in this area. Outpatients and inpatients were recruited from hospitals in Hohhot from January 2014 to January 2015. In total, 149 patients with HCV infection confirmed by positive anti-HCV and HCV-RNA tests were selected. First, we extracted HCV RNA. cDNA. was obtained. using reverse transcription, then NS5B regions were amplified using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which enabled 94 cases to be sequenced. We compared sequences in NCBI BLAST, which revealed the reference sequence of maximum similarity and enabled identification of HCV genotypes. Then, a homologous relationship tree was created using MegAlign clustal W. Finally, the distribution characteristics in HCV genotypes, as well as the relationship between genotypes and host age and sex, were obtained. Genotype lb accounted for 73. 40% (69/94), 2a for 19. 14% (18/94), 3a, 3b, and 6a for 2. 12% (2/94), respectively, and 6u for 1. 06% (1/94). The genotype distribution of men and women showed no significant difference (P>O . 05) in 93 cases for whoni explicit sex-specific data were available. Age data for 90 patients revealed the age of disease onset of the 1and2 types to be significantly higher than that of the 3and6 -types (P<0. 05). Hence, genotype lb was the most prevalent in Hohhot (lb has been reported to be the -predominant genotype in the general population of China, followed by genotype 2a). Other, less prevalent genotypes were 3a, 3b, 6a and 6u. Genotype 4 and genotype 5 were not found.