<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lobna Bouacida</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vanessa Suin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Veronik Hutse</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Michaël Boudewijns</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Reinoud Cartuyvels</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Laurent Debaisieux</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Emmanuel De Laere</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hallin, Marie</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nicolas Hougardy</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Lagrou, Katrien</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Els Oris</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Padalko, Elizaveta</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marijke Reynders</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gatien Roussel</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jean-Marc Senterre</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Michel Stalpaert</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dominique Ursi</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Carl Vael</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vaira, Dolorès</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Van Acker, Jos</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Walter Verstrepen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Steven Van Gucht</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kabamba, Benoît</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sophie Quoilin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gaetan Muyldermans</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Distribution of HCV genotypes in Belgium from 2008 to 2015.</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">PLoS One</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">hepatitis C virus</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2018</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">13</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;BACKGROUND: &lt;/b&gt;The knowledge of circulating HCV genotypes and subtypes in a country is crucial to guide antiviral therapy and to understand local epidemiology. Studies investigating circulating HCV genotypes and their trends have been conducted in Belgium. However they are outdated, lack nationwide representativeness or were not conducted in the general population.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;METHODS: &lt;/b&gt;In order to determine the distribution of different circulating HCV genotypes in Belgium, we conducted a multicentre study with all the 19 Belgian laboratories performing reimbursed HCV genotyping assays. Available genotype and subtype data were collected for the period from 2008 till 2015. Furthermore, a limited number of other variables were collected: some demographic characteristics from the patients and the laboratory technique used for the determination of the HCV genotype.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;RESULTS: &lt;/b&gt;For the study period, 11,033 unique records collected by the participating laboratories were used for further investigation. HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent (53.6%) genotype in Belgium, with G1a and G1b representing 19.7% and 31.6%, respectively. Genotype 3 was the next most prevalent (22.0%). Further, genotype 4, 2, and 5 were responsible for respectively 16.1%, 6.2%, and 1.9% of HCV infections. Genotype 6 and 7 comprise the remaining &amp;lt;1%. Throughout the years, a stable distribution was observed for most genotypes. Only for genotype 5, a decrease as a function of the year of analysis was observed, with respectively 3.6% for 2008, 2.3% for 2009 and 1.6% for the remaining years. The overall M:F ratio was 1.59 and was mainly driven by the high M:F ratio of 3.03 for patients infected with genotype 3. Patients infected with genotype 3 are also younger (mean age 41.7 years) than patients infected with other genotypes (mean age above 50 years for all genotypes). The patients for whom a genotyping assay was performed in 2008 were younger than those from 2015. Geographical distribution demonstrates that an important number of genotyped HCV patients live outside the Belgian metropolitan cities.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;CONCLUSION: &lt;/b&gt;This national monitoring study allowed a clear and objective view of the circulating HCV genotypes in Belgium and will help health authorities in the establishment of cost effectiveness determinations before implementation of new treatment strategies. This baseline characterization of the circulating genotypes is indispensable for a continuous surveillance, especially for the investigation of the possible impact of migration from endemic regions and prior to the increasing use of highly potent direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents.&lt;/p&gt;
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">12</style></issue></record></records></xml>