Epidemic history of HCV genotype 6 in South East Asia

摘要

BackgroundHCV infection is a subject of concern worldwide. Genotype 1, 2, and 3 spread around the world during and after the Second World War through infected blood and blood products. [1] Subtype 4a in Egypt underwent rapid exponential growth between 1930 and 1955 by extensive antischistosomiasis injection campaigns. [2] For at least 100 years,HCV genotype 5a in Africa spread with a roughly constant exponential growth pattern through time. [3] Genotype 6 is transmitted by needle sharing in IDUs in South East Asia.However, no published study addressed the evolution and migration time of this latter genotype. The aim of the study is to describe the epidemic history of HCV genotype 6 for better understanding the global origin and transmission dynamics of the virus.