Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in an area of hyperendemicity in southern Italy: A population-based study

Abstract

In a cohort of subjects from Italy, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV RNA [HCV(+) subgroup] prevalences were 24.6 and 79.6%, respectively. HCV types lb and 2a/c accounted for 95% of infections. Adjusted alanine aminotransferase levels were higher in males than in females and in RNA- positive subjects than in RNA-negative subjects regardless of HCV type. Genotype distribution was unrelated to demographic variables.