High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and predominance of genotype 4 in rural Gabon.

Journal article

Hepatitis C (HCV) molecular epidemiology is documented poorly in central African countries. In response to this, a population-based study of 319 consenting adults resident in a remote village of Gabon was undertaken (mean age: 38 years; age range: 13-85+; sex ratio: 0.74). Screening for anti-HCV antibodies was performed using ELISA and recombinant immunoblot assay. Seropositive samples were assessed further with viral load and genotyping techniques. Sixty-six (20.7%) individuals were HCV seropositive. Viral loads ranged from 600 to 24.9 million IU/ml (median: 372,500). Seroprevalence and viral loads increased significantly with age (P < 10(-5) and P < 0.003, respectively). HCV sequences of the 5'UTR genome region were obtained from 60 (90.9%) samples and NS5B region sequences were obtained from 22 (36.6%) samples. All strains belonged to subtypes of genotype 4: 4e (72.7%), 4c (13.6%), 4p (4.5%), 4r (4.5%) and one unclassified genotype 4 strain. Evolutionary analysis of the subtype 4e sequences indicates a period of raised transmission during the early twentieth century.

Authors: Ndong-Atome, G; Makuwa, M; Ouwe-Missi-Oukem-Boyer, O; Pybus, O; Branger, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of medical virology
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1581-1587
• Publication date: 2008-09-01
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21252
• EISSN: 1096-9071
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• Language: English
• Keywords: Male; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Viral Nonstructural Proteins; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Immunoblotting; Age Factors; Humans; Hepatitis C; Rural Population; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Genotype; Viral Load; 5' Untranslated Regions; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Phylogeny; Hepacivirus; RNA, Viral; Gabon; Female; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Adult