Abstract:

Background: The subtype diversity of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes is unknown in Venezuela. Methodology/Principal Findings: Partial sequencing of the NS5B region was performed in 310 isolates circulating in patients from 1995 to 2007. In the samples collected between 2005 and 2007, HCV genotype 1 (G1) was the most common genotype (63%), composed as expected of mainly G1a and G1b. G2 was the second most common genotype (33%), being G2a almost absent and G2j the most frequent subtype. Sequence analysis of the core region confirmed the subtype assignment performed within the NS5b region in 63 isolates. The complete genome sequence of G2j was obtained. G2j has been described in France, Canada and Burkina Fasso, but it was not found in Martinique, where several subtypes of G2 circulate in the general population. Bayesian coalescence analysis indicated a most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of G2j around 1785, before the introduction of G1b (1869) and G1a (1922). While HCV G1a and G1b experienced a growth reduction since 1990, coincident with the time when blood testing was implemented in Venezuela, HCV G2j did not seem to reach growth equilibrium during this period. Conclusions/Significance: Assuming the introduction of G2j from Africa during the slave trade, the high frequency of G2j found in Venezuela could suggest: 1- the introduction of African ethnic groups different from the ones introduced to Martinique or 2- the occurrence of a founder effect. This study represents an in-depth analysis of the subtype diversity of HCV in Venezuela, which is still unexplored in the Americas and deserves further studies.

Author affiliation: Sulbarán, Maria Z.. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Author affiliation: Di Lello, Federico Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina

Author affiliation: Sulbarán, Yoneira. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Author affiliation: Cosson, Clarisa. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Author affiliation: Loureiro, Carmen. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Author affiliation: Rangel, Héctor R.. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Author affiliation: Cantaloube, Jean F.. Etablissement Français du Sang Alpes-Méditerranée. Unité Emergence et Co-évolution virale; Francia

Author affiliation: Campos, Rodolfo Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina

Author affiliation: Moratorio, Gonzalo. Universidad de la Republica; Uruguay. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; Uruguay

Author affiliation: Cristina, Juan. Universidad de la Republica; Uruguay

Author affiliation: Pujol, Flor H.. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas; Venezuela

Abstract:

We performed a phylogenetic analysis of 2359 hemagglutinin sequences of influenza A. We find multiple host shifts of all polarities among swine, humans, and birds. We also describe novel methods to assess the quality of surveillance and apply these methods to the public sequence record.

Author affiliation: Janies, Daniel A.. Ohio State University; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Goloboff, Pablo Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina

Author affiliation: Pol, Diego. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina