OBJECTIVE: There is a large number of immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand. The aim of our study was to determine seroprevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this group. METHODS: Immigrants aged between 15 and 60 years (1,431 Cambodians and 1,594 Myanmarese) were recruited into this study. Each sample was screened for anti-HCV by ELISA. RNA was extracted from seropositive samples and RT-PCR was performed in order to amplify the HCV core region. Each sample was subsequently sequenced, and the genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of HCV infection in immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar was 33 (2.3%) and 27 (1.69%) samples, respectively. Of the anti-HCV-positive individuals, 25 (75.8%) from Cambodia and 15 (55.6%) from Myanmar harbored viral RNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the predominant HCV genotypes in this group were 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6 (6e, 6f, 6m, 6p and 6r). Most HCV isolates can be found in Thailand, though some subtypes of HCV-6 are uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the HCV seroprevalence and genotypes among immigrant Cambodians and Myanmarese which may reflect the prevalence in each country and closely relate to the prevalence in the guest country.
OBJECTIVE: There is a large number of immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand. The aim of our study was to determine seroprevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this group. METHODS: Immigrants aged between 15 and 60 years (1,431 Cambodians and 1,594 Myanmarese) were recruited into this study. Each sample was screened for anti-HCV by ELISA. RNA was extracted from seropositive samples and RT-PCR was performed in order to amplify the HCV core region. Each sample was subsequently sequenced, and the genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of HCV infection in immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar was 33 (2.3%) and 27 (1.69%) samples, respectively. Of the anti-HCV-positive individuals, 25 (75.8%) from Cambodia and 15 (55.6%) from Myanmar harbored viral RNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the predominant HCV genotypes in this group were 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6 (6e, 6f, 6m, 6p and 6r). Most HCV isolates can be found in Thailand, though some subtypes of HCV-6 are uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the HCV seroprevalence and genotypes among immigrant Cambodians and Myanmarese which may reflect the prevalence in each country and closely relate to the prevalence in the guest country.
Authors: Chunhua Li; Manqiong Yuan; Ling Lu; Teng Lu; Wenjie Xia; Van H Pham; An X D Vo; Mindie H Nguyen; Kenji Abe Journal: Virology Date: 2014-09-03 Impact factor: 3.616
Authors: Chunhua Li; Eleanor Barnes; Paul N Newton; Yongshui Fu; Manivanh Vongsouvath; Paul Klenerman; Hiroaki Okamoto; Kenji Abe; Oliver G Pybus; Ling Lu Journal: Virology Date: 2015-01-10 Impact factor: 3.616