Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen that poses a significant threat to public health worldwide. The genetic diversity and distribution of HCV genotypes in non-Western countries, particularly subSaharan Africa, is poorly documented. This study reports a phylogenetic analysis of core and NS5B gene sequences of 37 HCV strains sampled in Cameroon. A high level of genetic diversity of both genotypes 1 and 4 was found, indicating a unique pattern of long-term HCV infection that has not been observed elsewhere. These results lead to the hypothesis that these HCV genotypes originated and diversified in west Central Africa before spreading to other regions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1099/vir.0.19240-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Gen Virol

Publication Date

09/2003

Volume

84

Pages

2333 - 2341

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cameroon, Endemic Diseases, Female, Genetic Variation, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Epidemiology, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, RNA, Viral, Viral Core Proteins, Viral Nonstructural Proteins