Presence of rare hepatitis C virus subtypes, 2j, 2k and 2r, in Mexico City as identified by sequencing.

The HCV 5'UTR, Core/E1, and NS5B regions of samples from fifty patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) were analyzed. Seventeen patients were identified with genotype (GT) 1b, eleven with GT-1a, nine with GT-2b and four with GT-3a. Two rare subtypes were detected: GT-2j in two patients and GT-2r in one patient. Three patients had mixed infections: one with GT-2k + 2j and two with GT-1b + 2b. This work identifies HCV GTs, 2j, 2k, and 2r for the first time in Mexico.