An investigation on genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Anhui province

: To study the distribution of HCV genotypes in Anhui province, anti-HCV positive serum samples were collected from 371 hepatitis C patients, 60 patients under haemodialysis and 100 blood donors. HCVRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Based on the results of PCR positivity, HCV genotyping was investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results showed that among hepatitis C patients 143 (75.66%) were HCV type II infection, 25 (13.23%) were HCV type III and 12(6.35%) were type II/III co-infection. HCV type I and IV infection appeared in one of each (0.53%). HCV genotype could not be determined in 7 patients because of low HCVRNA titers. These results indicated that HCV II infection was the dominant genotype in Anhui Province. Geographically, HCV type II infection was higher in the southern areas. The patterns of genotype distribution in the southern and northern areas were significant different (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between HCV genotypes in relation to the history of blood transfusion.