@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-76-5-1197, author = "Davidson, F. and Simmonds, P. and Ferguson, J. C. and Jarvis, L. M. and Dow, B. C. and Follett, E. A. C. and Seed, C. R. G. and Krusius, T. and Lin, C. and Medgyesi, G. A. and Kiyokawa, H. and Olim, G. and Duraisamy, G. and Cuypers, T. and Saeed, A. A. and Teo, D. and Conradie, J. and Kew, M. C. and Lin, M. and Nuchaprayoon, C. and Ndimbie, O. K. and Yap, P. L.", title = "Survey of major genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus using RFLP of sequences amplified from the 5′ non-coding region", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "1995", volume = "76", number = "5", pages = "1197-1204", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-76-5-1197", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-76-5-1197", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "A method is described for identifying different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by restriction endonuclease cleavage of sequences amplified by PCR from the 5′ non-coding region. Using the enzymes HaeIII-RsaI and HinfI-MvaI, followed by cleavage with BstU1 or ScrFI, it was possible to identify and distinguish HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5 and 6. The method was used to investigate the prevalence of these genotypes in 723 blood donors in 15 countries, the largest survey to date, and one which covered a wide range of geographical regions (Europe, America, Africa and Asia). These results, combined with a review of the existing literature, indicate the existence of several distinct regional patterns of HCV genotype distribution, and provide the framework for future detailed epidemiological investigations of HCV transmission.", }