Intervirology
Volume 54, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 10-16

Seroprevalence and genotype of Hepatitis C virus among immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand (Article) (Open Access)

Akkarathamrongsin S.* , Praianantathavorn K. , Hacharoen N. , Theamboonlers A. , Tangkijvanich P. , Poovorawan Y.
  • a Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, France, Inter-Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate School, France
  • b Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, France
  • c Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, France
  • d Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, France
  • e Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • f Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, France

Abstract

Objective: There is a large number of immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar in Thailand. The aim of our study was to determine seroprevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this group. Methods: Immigrants aged between 15 and 60 years (1,431 Cambodians and 1,594 Myanmarese) were recruited into this study. Each sample was screened for anti-HCV by ELISA. RNA was extracted from seropositive samples and RT-PCR was performed in order to amplify the HCV core region. Each sample was subsequently sequenced, and the genotype was determined by phylogenetic analysis. Results: The prevalence of HCV infection in immigrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar was 33 (2.3%) and 27 (1.69%) samples, respectively. Of the anti-HCV-positive individuals, 25 (75.8%) from Cambodia and 15 (55.6%) from Myanmar harbored viral RNA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the predominant HCV genotypes in this group were 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 6 (6e, 6f, 6m, 6p and 6r). Most HCV isolates can be found in Thailand, though some subtypes of HCV-6 are uncommon. Conclusions: This study shows the HCV seroprevalence and genotypes among immigrant Cambodians and Myanmarese which may reflect the prevalence in each country and closely relate to the prevalence in the guest country. © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author Keywords

Seroprevalence Hepatitis C virus Cambodia Genotype Immigrant workers Myanmar

Index Keywords

genotype immigrant Cambodia Thailand human middle aged priority journal Hepatitis C virus nonhuman groups by age RNA, Viral Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction virus isolation virus core nucleotide sequence Young Adult Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Myanmar prevalence Article major clinical study Phylogeny adult hepatitis C antibody seroprevalence Seroepidemiologic Studies Hepacivirus hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77955120257&doi=10.1159%2f000318884&partnerID=40&md5=2fafc2e8e888edc907a23883723872ec
DOI: 10.1159/000318884
ISSN: 03005526
Cited by: 26
Original Language: English