Distribution of HCV genotypes among different exposure categories in the State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

In order to determine the patterns of distribution of HCV genotypes among different exposure categories in the state of Para, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 312 HCV-infected individuals, belonging to different categories of exposure, who were seen at the Blood Bank of Para, the Center for Prevention and Treatment of Chemical Dependency, and a private hemodialysis clinic in Belem. They were tested for HCV antibodies using an immunoenzymatic test, RNA-HCV, using Real-Time PCR and HCV genotyping through phylogenetic analysis of the 5' UTR. The population groups were epidemiologically characterized according to data collected in a brief interview or medical consultation. Genotype 1 predominated in all the different categories of HCV exposure. The HCV genotypic distribution in blood donors (BD) was comprised of genotypes 1 (94.04%) and 3 (5.96%). All patients with chronic hematologic diseases (PCHD) had HCV genotype 1. The genotypic distribution in illicit-drug users (DU) was comprised of genotypes 1 (59.6%) and 3 (40.4%). In patients under hemodialysis (PUH), genotypes 1 (90.16%), 2 (3.28%), and 3 (6.56%) were detected. Finally, the frequency of genotypes 1 and 3 was significantly different between the groups: BD and DU, PUH and DU, PUH and PCHD, and PCHD and DU. The genotypic frequency and distribution of HCV in different categories of exposure in the state of Para showed a predominance of genotype 1, regardless of the possible risk of infection.