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. 1999 Jan;10(1):53-6.
doi: 10.1155/1999/918478.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Canada: Results from the LCDC Sentinel Health Unit Surveillance System

R Chaudhary  1 , M Tepper, S Eisaadany, P R Gully
Affiliations

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Canada: Results from the LCDC Sentinel Health Unit Surveillance System

R Chaudhary et al. Can J Infect Dis. 1999 Jan.

Abstract
in English, French

In a sentinel hepatitis surveillance study conducted by sentinel health units, 1469 patients were enrolled, and 959 (65.3%) were positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Samples from 387 patients (40.4%) were tested for HCV RNA, and 289 (74.7%) were positive for RNA. The major risk factor for HCV infection was injection drug use, reported in 71% of cases. The genotyping of HCV isolates showed that subtype 1a (48%) was predominant in Canada. The other subtypes detected were 1b (19%), 2a (6%), 2b (3%), 3a (22%) and 4a (1%). In Winnipeg, Manitoba, subtype 3a (47%) was more prevalent than subtype 1a (37%), and, in Guelph, Ontario, both subtypes 1a and 3a had equal (40%) distribution. The prevalence of subtype 3a was significantly higher in injection drug users (27%) than in nonusers (10%) (P<0.005). In Canada, injection drug use is the major risk factor for HCV infections, and subtype 1a is more prevalent.

Dans une étude sentinelle de surveillance de l’hépatite menée par des unités de santé sentinelles, 1469 patients ont été inclus, et 959 (65,3 %) étaient porteurs d’anticorps du virus de l’hépatite C (VHC). Des échantillons prélevés chez 387 patients (40,4 %) ont été analysés pour une recherche d’ARN du VHC, et 289 patients (74,7 %) testaient positifs pour l’ARN. Le principal facteur de risque pour une infection au VHC était l’utilisation de drogues intraveineuses, signalée dans 71 % des cas. Le génotypage des isolats de VHC a révélé que le sous-type 1a (48 %) prédominait au Canada. Les autres sous-types décelés étaient le 1b (19 %), 2a (6 %), 2b (3 %), 3a (22 %) et 4a (1 %). À Winnipeg, au Manitoba, la prévalence du sous-type 3a (47 %) était supérieure au sous-type 1a (37 %) et, à Guelph, en Ontario, la distribution des sous-types 1a et 3a était égale (40 %). La prévalence du sous-type 3a était nettement plus importante chez les usagers de drogues intraveineuses (27 %) que chez les non-usagers (10 %) (p<0,005). Au Canada, l’utilisation de drogues intraveineuses représente le principal facteur de risque pour les infections au VHC et le sous-type 1a prédomine.

Keywords: Genotyping; Hepatitis C virus; Sentinel Health Unit Surveillance System.

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