High genetic diversity including potential new subtypes of hepatitis C virus genotype 6 in Lao People's Democratic Republic

• Main Authors: Hubschen J.M., Jutavijittum P., Thammavong T., Samountry B., Yousukh A., Toriyama K., Sausy A., Muller C.P.
• Format: Note
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-81255143347&partnerID=40&md5=aba293a5b80764f9541fe5f03953052e; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/3704
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Sera from 105 anti-HCV-positive first-time blood donors collected in 2004, 2005 and 2008 in different provinces in Laos were investigated by PCR. Forty-five samples were positive for HCV (42.86%); two belonged to subtype 1b (2/45, 4.4%) and all others to genotype 6 (43/45, 95.6%), including subtypes 6b, 6h, 6k, 6l, 6n and 6q. Three groups of sequences were not clearly attributable to any genotype 6 subtype, two of which may be regarded as candidates for new subtypes of genotype 6. Two samples were mixed infected with different subtypes or clusters of genotype 6 viruses. © 2011 The Authors. Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2011 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.