Phylogeny and phylodinamic of Hepatitis C in Italy

BMC Infect Dis. 2012;12 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S5. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-S2-S5. Epub 2012 Nov 12.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is one of the most pressing health emergencies in the world with a global prevalence of about 170 million people chronically infected worldwide. In Europe, Italy has the highest HCV prevalence (3 - 4.4%) with peaks of 12.6 - 26% in Southern regions and the major islands. In Italy HCV genotype 1b prevails, and genotype 4 is mainly found in the south of the country where the prevalence is particularly high in regions such as Calabria.Phylogenetics analysis is a molecular tool widely used to study rapidly-evolving RNA viruses that establish chronic infections such as HCV. Searching the scientific literature, it was found that thirty-nine genetic studies on HCV genotypes have been carried out in Italy between 1997 to 2012 years. However, phylogenetic analysis was performed only in fourteen out of thirty-nine HCV studies (36%) considered. Monitoring the genetic evolution of HCV is an essential step to control the local as well as global HCV epidemic and to develop efficient preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Computational Biology
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / classification
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence