SEROPREVALENCE AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONG HOSPITAL BASED GENERAL POPULATION IN VIJAYPUR, INDIA
Keywords:
Seroprevalence, RT-PCR, RFLP, Sequencing Genotype, SubtypeAbstract
Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are 180 million people affected with HCV worldwide and about 12.5 million carriers in India. Genotypes of HCV can vary in pathogenecity and can impact on treatment outcome. Hence this study was undertaken to know the seroprevalence and different genotypes of HCV among hospital based general population in Vijaypur, Karnataka.
Methods: Study subjects were those attending various Out-Patient Department (OPD) and In-Patient Department (IPD) of Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijaypur, Karnataka. 5 ml of blood sample was aseptically collected in plain vial from the study subjects. Serum was separated and aliquoted in different vials. All the 1,200 serum samples were tested for HCV antibodies by third generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The serum samples positive by ELISA were tested for HCV RNA by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Serum samples positive for HCV RNA were subjected to geno typing by RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and direct sequencing.
Results: Of the 1,200 samples tested, 32 (2.6%) were positive for anti-HCV antibody and 25 (2.1%) were positive for HCV RNA. HCV genotype 1 (68%) was found to be the most predominant type followed by genotype 3 (32%). The subtypes of genotype 1 were 1a and 1b, whereas subtypes of genotype 3 were 3a and 3b.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV in this study was 2.6% and HCV genotype 1 and genotype 3 were found to be the predominant genotypes respectively. For physicians, knowing the genotype of hepatitis C virus is helpful in deciding type and duration of therapy. In addition, knowledge of circulating genotypes could impact on future vaccine formulations.
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