Evaluation of three different hepatitis C virus typing methods for detection of mixed‐genotype infections

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical applicability of an eligible assay for the true prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) mixed-genotype infections. METHODS:A newly developed HCV genotyping method targeting all six major HCV genotypes and 12 subtypes, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and a serotyping assay were utilized for the detection of HCV mixed-genotype infections using known HCV genotypes and unknown samples. RESULTS:In a defined mix of HCV genotypes, a genotype present at levels as low as 8.3% was detected by our newly developed assay, showing a threefold increase in sensitivity over that of direct deoxyribonucleic (DNA) sequencing. A comparative study of the accuracy among the three genotyping methods was carried out on samples obtained from 50 thalassemic patients who received multiple blood transfusions. The results showed that viruses in approximately 42% of the samples from this group were determined to be infected with mixed genotypes by our newly developed method. A serotyping assay and RFLP analysis, performed with poor results, could identify only 18% and 10% of mixed-genotype infections, respectively. CONCLUSION:The newly developed assay may be the method of choice when detection of genotypes present at low levels in mixed-genotype infections due to its higher level of sensitivity.

Mixed Genotype Infections with Hepatitis C Virus, Pakistan

“…To determine the prevalence of HCV mixed genotype infections, we retrospectively analyzed genotyping data for paired serum samples from 22,125 HCV-infected patients during the past 11 years (March 2000–May 2010) for all regions in Pakistan by using molecular-based genotype-specific methods ( 6 , 7 ). A total of 12,036 (54.4%) were male patients and 10,089 (45.6%) were female patients.…”

“…Our method can detect a small amount (8.3%) of HCV RNA in a mixed genotype population ( 7 ). Restriction fragment polymorphism analysis can detect 2 genotypes only if 1 of them represents > 41.6% of the genotypes in a mixed genotype population.…”

Hepatitis B, D, C, and HCC viruses in Tajikistan

“…The age-related decline of the HBsAg prevalence observed in this study may be explained by either; seroclearance of HBsAg due to natural seroconversion [15] or by death of the HBV-infected patients at age younger than those with HCV, due to earlier development of the end stage liver disease [16][17][18]. Alternatively, suppressive effect of the concurrent HCV infection might have caused the loss of the HBV antigenia [19][20][21].…”

Non‐response to daclatasvir and asunaprevir therapy in patients co‐infected with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 2

“…Regions in the HCV genome and methods to use for a diagnosis are different from the HCV serotyping used in HCV genotyping. If HCV is shown to be serotype 1 and genotype 2, the virus is suspected to have undergone a point mutation in the HCV core region, or co‐infection of two different types of HCV or intergenotypic recombination may have occurred …”