BACKGROUND/AIMS: The biological and clinicopathological features of hepatitis C virus infections of type 1 and type 2 have been well documented. However, little is known about the nature of HCV type 5 infections, which have been found to occur in South Africa but rarely elsewhere. METHODS: We investigated the HCV genotypes in 125 viremic blood donors and 125 viremic patients by restriction endonuclease analysis of amplified 5' non-coding region sequences. Donors and patients infected with type 5 were further studied. Serum HCV RNA levels were assessed by a differential-size PCR-aided transcript titration assay. RESULTS: HCV type 5 infections were identified in seven (5.6%) of the blood donors and in five (4.0%) of the patients. Sera from these 12 persons reacted with the core and NS3 antigens in both RIBA-2 and RIBA-3 tests. Six (50%) and 10 (83%) sera reacted with the NS4 antigens in RIBA-2 and RIBA-3 tests, respectively. HCV type 5 was found to replicate to high titers that ranged from 10(6.0) to 10(8.0) molecules/ml. Transfusion was the most frequently observed risk factor (5 of 12) and persons infected with type 5 were generally older than those infected with other types (< 40 years vs. > or = 40 years, p = 0.01). Cirrhosis was found in two of six (33%) donors and three of four (75%) patients. The duration of infection appeared to be an important determinant for the presence of cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this small group of Canadians infected with HCV type 5, a high proportion developed severe liver disease.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The biological and clinicopathological features of hepatitis C virus infections of type 1 and type 2 have been well documented. However, little is known about the nature of HCV type 5 infections, which have been found to occur in South Africa but rarely elsewhere. METHODS: We investigated the HCV genotypes in 125 viremic blood donors and 125 viremic patients by restriction endonuclease analysis of amplified 5' non-coding region sequences. Donors and patients infected with type 5 were further studied. Serum HCV RNA levels were assessed by a differential-size PCR-aided transcript titration assay. RESULTS: HCV type 5 infections were identified in seven (5.6%) of the blood donors and in five (4.0%) of the patients. Sera from these 12 persons reacted with the core and NS3 antigens in both RIBA-2 and RIBA-3 tests. Six (50%) and 10 (83%) sera reacted with the NS4 antigens in RIBA-2 and RIBA-3 tests, respectively. HCV type 5 was found to replicate to high titers that ranged from 10(6.0) to 10(8.0) molecules/ml. Transfusion was the most frequently observed risk factor (5 of 12) and persons infected with type 5 were generally older than those infected with other types (< 40 years vs. > or = 40 years, p = 0.01). Cirrhosis was found in two of six (33%) donors and three of four (75%) patients. The duration of infection appeared to be an important determinant for the presence of cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this small group of Canadians infected with HCV type 5, a high proportion developed severe liver disease.
Authors: José Eduardo Levi; Deise Tihe Takaoka; Regina Helena Garrini; Roberta Maria Fachini; Roberto Focaccia; Edgar De Bortholi Santos; Heloisa Pedrosa Mitre; João Silva De Mendonça; Norma De Paula Cavalheiro; Antonio Alci Barone; Silvano Wendel Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2002-07 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Jean Delwaide; Christiane Gerard; Catherine Reenaers; Dolores Vaira; Boris Bastens; Christian Bataille; Benoit Servais; Bernard Maes; Jacques Belaiche; Groupe Liegeois D'etudes Des Virus Hepatotropes Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Jannick Verbeeck; Piet Maes; Elke Wollants; Schalk Van der Merwe; Ernie Song; Frederik Nevens; Marc Van Ranst Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Jannick Verbeeck; Piet Maes; Philippe Lemey; Oliver G Pybus; Elke Wollants; Ernie Song; Frederik Nevens; Johan Fevery; Wayne Delport; Schalk Van der Merwe; Marc Van Ranst Journal: J Virol Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Donald G Murphy; Bernard Willems; Marc Deschênes; Nir Hilzenrat; Roger Mousseau; Sidney Sabbah Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2007-02-07 Impact factor: 5.948