Ng the four genotype groups, significant differences in viral loads were also found (F = 6.675, P,0.001). Donors infected with genotype 1 and genotype 6 showed Title Loaded From File higher mean viral loads, which were 6.07 and 6.15 log10 IU/ml, respectively. However, among donors infected with genotype 2 and genotype 3 the viral loads were lower, which were 5.66 and 5.49 log10 IU/ml, respectively. These results indicated that male donors and donors infected with genotype 1 and 6 were more likely to have higher loads of HCV. Higher viral loads have been reported among patients infected with genotype 1 than with genotype 2/3 [19,20,21]. In this study, we observed higher viral loads not only in the genotype 1 group but also in the genotype 6 group, when comparing with those in the genotype 2 and 3 groups. However, since a higher percentage of male donors was found in the genotype 6 group than in the genotype 1, 2, and 3 groups while the male gender showed higherviral loads than female gender, a question was asked if the higher viral loads we observed among the donors infected with genotype 6 was contributed mainly by HCV genotype or by donors’ gender. To answer this question, a multivariate regression analysis was performed under the generalized linear model. As shown in Table 4, both the donors’ age and ethnicity were not correlated with the viral loads (P = 0.973 and 0.212, respectively), while the donors’ gender and HCV genotype were (P = 0.031 and 0.011, respectively). We also compared the viral loads among male donors (Table 5). In agreement with the results previously described [19,20,21], the viral loads among male donors infected with genotype 1 or 6 were significant higher than those with genotype 2 or 3, with the mean values of 6.18, 6.18, 5.63, and 5.59 log10 IU/ml, respectively (F = 5.501, P = 0.001). In conclusion, both multivariate regression analysis and stratified analysis confirmed that independently the viral loads were correlated with the detected HCV genotypes and the donors’ gender.DiscussionIn this study, the viral loads of HCV were analyzed among a cohort of voluntary blood donors who were HCV viremic. It was revealed that both the detected HCV genotypes and the donors’ gender are two independent factors in association with the measured viral loads. Although similar analyses have been reported for patients infected with genotype 6 comparing with those infected with genotypes 1, 2, and 3, no statistical differences were shown [24,25]. However, in this study, the genotype 6 viruses were found to significantly associate with higher viral loads. Such a feature is similar to that revealed for genotype 1 but different from genotypes 2 and 3. In this study, the voluntary blood donors were otherwise asymptomatic and healthy except for HCV being positive. Different from the subjects in previous Title Loaded From File studies who were patients with chronic HCV infection, none of blood donors in this study had received any anti-HCV treatment and hence, their viral loads represent those yielded during the natural HCV infection. The observed baseline values may predict the treatment outcomes and the difficulties in treating those with high HCV loads. For the viralTable 2. General information of the studied donors among genotype groups.Genotype groups Age Gender ( ) Mean 6 SD Male Female Ethnicity ( ) Han Others doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052467.t1 n = 134 30.2610.1 99 (73.9) 35 (26.1) 131 (97.8) 3 (2.2)2 n = 23 29.769.9 17 (73.9) 6 (26.1) 22 (95.7) 1 (4.3)3 n = 37 33.467.0 2.Ng the four genotype groups, significant differences in viral loads were also found (F = 6.675, P,0.001). Donors infected with genotype 1 and genotype 6 showed higher mean viral loads, which were 6.07 and 6.15 log10 IU/ml, respectively. However, among donors infected with genotype 2 and genotype 3 the viral loads were lower, which were 5.66 and 5.49 log10 IU/ml, respectively. These results indicated that male donors and donors infected with genotype 1 and 6 were more likely to have higher loads of HCV. Higher viral loads have been reported among patients infected with genotype 1 than with genotype 2/3 [19,20,21]. In this study, we observed higher viral loads not only in the genotype 1 group but also in the genotype 6 group, when comparing with those in the genotype 2 and 3 groups. However, since a higher percentage of male donors was found in the genotype 6 group than in the genotype 1, 2, and 3 groups while the male gender showed higherviral loads than female gender, a question was asked if the higher viral loads we observed among the donors infected with genotype 6 was contributed mainly by HCV genotype or by donors’ gender. To answer this question, a multivariate regression analysis was performed under the generalized linear model. As shown in Table 4, both the donors’ age and ethnicity were not correlated with the viral loads (P = 0.973 and 0.212, respectively), while the donors’ gender and HCV genotype were (P = 0.031 and 0.011, respectively). We also compared the viral loads among male donors (Table 5). In agreement with the results previously described [19,20,21], the viral loads among male donors infected with genotype 1 or 6 were significant higher than those with genotype 2 or 3, with the mean values of 6.18, 6.18, 5.63, and 5.59 log10 IU/ml, respectively (F = 5.501, P = 0.001). In conclusion, both multivariate regression analysis and stratified analysis confirmed that independently the viral loads were correlated with the detected HCV genotypes and the donors’ gender.DiscussionIn this study, the viral loads of HCV were analyzed among a cohort of voluntary blood donors who were HCV viremic. It was revealed that both the detected HCV genotypes and the donors’ gender are two independent factors in association with the measured viral loads. Although similar analyses have been reported for patients infected with genotype 6 comparing with those infected with genotypes 1, 2, and 3, no statistical differences were shown [24,25]. However, in this study, the genotype 6 viruses were found to significantly associate with higher viral loads. Such a feature is similar to that revealed for genotype 1 but different from genotypes 2 and 3. In this study, the voluntary blood donors were otherwise asymptomatic and healthy except for HCV being positive. Different from the subjects in previous studies who were patients with chronic HCV infection, none of blood donors in this study had received any anti-HCV treatment and hence, their viral loads represent those yielded during the natural HCV infection. The observed baseline values may predict the treatment outcomes and the difficulties in treating those with high HCV loads. For the viralTable 2. General information of the studied donors among genotype groups.Genotype groups Age Gender ( ) Mean 6 SD Male Female Ethnicity ( ) Han Others doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052467.t1 n = 134 30.2610.1 99 (73.9) 35 (26.1) 131 (97.8) 3 (2.2)2 n = 23 29.769.9 17 (73.9) 6 (26.1) 22 (95.7) 1 (4.3)3 n = 37 33.467.0 2.
