Genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan, genotypes were identified in 122 (36 anti-HCV-positive blood donors, 44 anti-HCV-positive aborigines, 28 hemodialysis patients, and 14 patients with chronic liver diseases) of 280 subjects, using polymerase chain reaction by Okamoto's type-specific primer method. Type II was the dominant (66.7%) type among anti-HCV-positive blood donors, followed by type III and type IV with the same percentages (16.7%), while none of type I was detected. The prevalence of genotype distribution were 75.0%, 81.1%, and 64.3% for type II, 4.6%, 17.9%, and 21.4% for type III, 13.6%, 0%, and 7.1% for type IV, for the aborigines, hemodialysis, and chronic liver diseases groups, respectively. Four subjects revealed mixed infections by two different genotypes: two cases of II and III; and each one case of II and IV, and III and IV. Diverse genotype distributions in two hemodialysis groups disclose the existence of obvious regional differences even within a region. The results reveal the highest prevalence of type II as in Japan. However, there is a higher prevalence rate of type IV than in Japan.

SEN virus infection among patients on maintenance hemodialysis in southern Taiwan

“…Such a different prevalence of viral strains has been observed in HCV between northern and southern Taiwanese patients in previous studies. 18,19 Furthermore, since our previous study demonstrated the different predominance of HCV genotype infection in the HCV endemic area of southern Taiwan, 20 we surmised that independent SENV-D/H outbreaks occurred in southern and northern Taiwan. When stratifying patients by age, a trend towards increasing prevalence of SENV-D was observed with older age.…”

Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b increases cumulative lifetime risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

“…The geographical distributions of other HCV genotypes were more restricted, including 4a in the Middle East, Egypt and Central Africa, 5a in South Africa and 6a in Southeast Asia . The most prevalent HCV genotype in Taiwan was 1b . However, previous studies were limited to clinical patients with chronic liver diseases, patients with hemodialysis and individuals from HCV‐hyperendemic areas .…”

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection among schoolchildren in Taiwan

“…Outbreaks are often related to contaminated water and improperly prepared or handled food [Foff, 1995]. Taiwan was a hyperendemic area for HAV infection before 1980 [Wu et al, 1980a]. The seroprevalence of HAV antibodies was higher than 90% with most HAV infection occurring during childhood [Wu et al, 1982].…”