TLR3 and infection: According to Abdel-Hady et al, HBV infection is most prevalent in Asia, Africa, Southern Europe, and Latin America.26 With respect to HCV-related infection and related diseases, the prevalence is relatively lower in economically developed countries including Africa, the West Pacific, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asia, than in less developed countries including northern and western Europe, North America, and Australia (1–2% vs 5–10%).27,28 Based on these data, we infer that there may be ethnic differences in the influence of TLR3 polymorphisms.