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HCV strains belonging to genotype 4 may be gaining endemicity across Continental Europe but the extent of their spread in the United Kingdom is unknown. Sera referred from patients attending hospitals in England between 2004 through 2008 were characterised. A total of 243 sera carried HCV genotype 4. The most common subtypes were 4a (33%) and 4d (35%). Compared to patients infected by 4d, those infected by 4a were 20 times more likely to be Middle Eastern than English, and those infected by non-4a/4d were older, tended to be female, and 50 or 12 times more likely to be Middle Eastern or South Asian, respectively, than English. Persons infected by 4d tended to be English rather than Middle Eastern or South Asian. One group of 4d strains clustered with strains reported from persons in Europe engaged in male homosexual activity. Surveillance of trends in the importation and subsequent spread of HCV genotype 4 and its subtypes is advocated.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/jmv.24069

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Med Virol

Publication Date

03/2015

Volume

87

Pages

417 - 423

Keywords

diversity, genotype 4, phylogenetic analysis, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, England, Ethnic Groups, Female, Genetic Variation, Genotype, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Epidemiology, Young Adult