Mallani,

You're the knowledge Guru! That is really fantastic information, and very inciteful, I never new this! OK Pakistan is off the radar!

I am having a cheesy grin moment as I learnt something new!

There is such limited historical information available that it must be a curiosity to a lot of people, not just me.

It doesn't suprise me how this became common place.  I am suprised though that it spread from the developed world to the undeveloped considering it resembles more Nile Fever than traditional Hep A and B.

Interesting and you have cheered me up, thanks! :D

Hi Loopy,

You'll drive yourself nuts. You can find an article that says anything you want.

Basicly, HCV derived from a single quasispecies some time ago. Some say hundreds of years ago, but the most consistent research suggest more recent origins, between 1829 and 1900. Most think that Geno 1b was the original form, and all the major groups derived from that. For Geno 2, 3 and 4, the subgroups derived from a single parent. The only difference between the Genotypes is their structure. Sequential changes at 5''-UTR and NS5B ( both just indicate a position on the viral structure), allow the Genotypes to be distinguished.

The rapid expansion of the virus from 1940-1960 lead many researchers to believe that World War 2 was responsible. The commonest Geno's were 1a which was called the "American Genotype'' and 1b, called the "Japanese" Genotype. HCV spread from the developed world to the undeveloped world, which means the article about 3b arising in Pakistan is hard to believe.

In 1991 I was finally diagnosed with HepC, instead of nonA-nonB hepatitis. Genotype testing in Australia was not available at my Hospital until 1996, when I found I was Geno 1b. My doctor then told me that was the drug-user's Genotype and was hardest to treat with Interferon ( we didn't have Ribavirin then). He said Geno 1a was the transfusion Geno. and was more socially acceptable. What rubbish.

By all means keep looking, but you will find the structural difference between 3a and 3b is complicated but not significant, and there is no difference between severity of disease and response to treatment. Geno 2a and 2b are similar, but Geno 1b has very different non-structural elements to 1a giving it it's protection against mutant virus strains.   Forget about Pakistan.

Thanks, I guess I hate not knowing things, but I can't get information that doesn't exist. I will pester my goddess of treatment Friday lol!

I guess I am interested to know about its migration, statistics and other interesting facts, it is hard to decipher at times though, especially as data is different in each country and main information is aimed at harder to treat 1a and 1b.

Regarding sibbling, sad but a fact of life, some things we are helpless against. Regarding my infection, I don't blame anyone, or myself, disease is not selective, if will harbour in any host without predudice! :D

Have a lovely day x

Don`t worry about searching for it, Lisa, enjoy your herbal tea and relax!  Sometimes reading stuff online can just lead to more confusion!  These days genotypes and subtypes have spread world-wide so the country or part of the world where they originated isn`t relevant to us any more, apart from being slightly interesting from an academic point of view. 

I`m so sorry about your brother, and can well understand why it`s a sensitive subject for you.  It`s not your fault you have HCV and you`ll be ok.  Take care.  xx

I will look again for the article, I have read so many today, I will have to search it. I guess I am frustrated at the lack of information, it is like trying to peice a puzzle with parts missing. I'm sure I'm just having an off day and reactive to a statement that is probably written years ago. I think that they suggested that poor medical practice in Pakistan caused multiple infection rates and was carried to Europe and elsewhere via herion abuse. It is not really a particulary damning statement, it is just that I had a sibbling that died from drug abuse and never caught any contagious diseases, I just find it ironic and I am probably being over senstive, time for some herbal tea I think!

Hi Lisa, HCV is a blood borne virus, whatever the genotype, and there are various ways to be infected, all involving blood to blood contact.   I don`t see how any one genotype in particular can be specific to intravenous drug users.   I haven`t come across that anywhere, and I really don`t think you should need to feel stigmatised by it.  Can you post a link? 

There doesn`t seem to be a lot of information about genotype 3b but I`m quite sure your doctor is right that it`s classified in exactly the same way as 3a. 

I have been busy this morning to try and learn more specifics about the genotype 3b. There is poor information available and I am a little annoyed by what is.

I am not a judgemental person, and I do not discriminate, but my particular type is from Pakistan (I would like to have at least been there), and the b type is particular to drug abusers and not a.

Well, I have never done these things, and I feel a little annoyed that I am labelled now as being in this sub group (no offense to anyone that obtained it this way, it is not here nor there.) But I can imagine that people would doubt my honesty because of the available information. :/

I wanted to now how b is different from a and if this has any real significance to responding to treatment (my Dr. classifies a and b under 3 and easier to treat). It is frustrating wanting to know everything and not finding what I am looking for lol. Does anyone know anything about the varient mutation and its implications?