CLASSIFYING HEPATITIS-C VIRUS GENOTYPES

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major aetiological agent for blood born e non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide, Since its discovery in 1989, at le ast 28 HCV genotypes have been reported, which differ by >20% in the n ucleotide sequence of the entire genome (similar to 9500 nucleotides) or the sequence of the E1 gene (576 nucleotides). Different HCV genoty pes have distinct geographical distributions, and may be associated wi th variations in viral replication and disease-inducing activity, as w ell as poor response to interferons in patients with chronic hepatitis C.