Genotyping of hepatitis C virus in South Africa

Abstract

The six major hepatitis C virus genotypes were investigated by using samples from 79 seropositive and PCR-positive blood donors from three different regions of South Africa as well as 9 patients with chronic renal failure, 19 with liver disease, and 23 with hemophilia. PCR products of the genome were typed by restriction fragment length polymorphic analysis by RsaI-HaeIII and MvaI-HinfI double digestion. Type 5 occurred in 40% of this population group; type 1 occurred in 33%; and types 2, 3, and 4 were found in 13.8, 7.7, and 2.3%, respectively.