Back to Search
Start Over
Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in Japanese hepatitis C carriers
- Source :
- Hepatology Research; Apr2003, Vol. 25 Issue 4, p409, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be classified into six major genotypes, the prevalences of which differ around the world. In Japan, the main genotypes are HCV 1 and HCV 2; others are found only rarely. Little is known about the prevalence in Japan of HCV genotype 4 which, is found frequently in North and Central Africa and the Middle East. Thus, we conducted a study to clarify distribution of HCV genotype 4 and the clinical demographics of patients with HCV genotype 4 in Japan. We examined HCV genotypes in 899 Japanese individuals with HCV viremia living in Aichi Prefecture, including 63 hemophiliacs. Four patients (0.4%) were infected with HCV genotype 4. All four of these patients were male hemophiliacs who had received clotting factors from foreign countries. Three patients were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); none were co-infected with GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus. Phylogenetic analysis of the El region indicated that all four patients were infected with subtype 4a. This subtype is related genetically to a subtype previously reported in Japanese and Italian hemophiliacs. HCV genotype 4 is indeed rare in Japan and may be detected only among hemophiliacs who have received inactivated clotting factor concentrates from foreign countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- HEPATITIS C virus
HEMOPHILIACS
HIV
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13866346
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Hepatology Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9500143
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/S1386-6346(03)00016-0