Frequent Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Subtype 3a (HCV-3a) Isolates in Thailand by PCR Using Subtype-Specific Primers

Abstract

By means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using subtype-specific primers for hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes la, lb, 2a, 2b and 3a, the prevalence of each subtype among HCV isolates in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was determined. HCV-3a appeared to be the most common subtype in blood donors, and was also frequently found in patients with liver disease. HCV-lb, but not HCV-2a or -2b, was also commonly found in this area, while a considerable percentage of the total HCV isolates still remained unclassifiable by the above methods. Serotype analysis of the HCV isolates using C14-1 and C14-2 recombinant peptides revealed that HCV-3a was likely to carry an antigenic determinant(s) different from those of the major types 1 (HCV-la and -lb) and 2 (HCV-2a and -2b). © 1995, Center For Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.