Epidemiological and Genotypical Features of HCV in District Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Authors : Khaista MUNİR, Muhammad Ajmal KHAN, Aftab AMİN, Bakhtawar KHAN, Atta UR RAHMAN, Amin ULLAH, Mukhtar ULLAH

Pages : 217-223

Doi:10.5799/jmid.1036786

View : 12 | Download : 4

Publication Date : 2021-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: Objective: The incidence of Hepatitis C Virus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(HCV); infection is high in Pakistan. The current study evaluates HCV risk factors, epidemiology, and genotype distribution in the less-developed Upper Dir Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(KPK);, Pakistan. Methods: Blood samples from 500 outpatients from the Upper Dir Region were collected for initial screening using a strip-based immunochromatography test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ICT);. In this study, ICT analysis followed Polymerase chain reaction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PCR); analysis for HCV-RNA confirmation. In addition, PCR positive samples were subject to genotypic description using genotype-specific primers. Results: ICT analysis revealed that out of 500 patients, 13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.6%); were HCV positive. PCR analysis identified that 10 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.0%); of the 13 HCV-positive patients were HCV-RNA positive. The overall incidence of HCV in the study group was 2.6%. The rate of HCV incidence was found to be higher in males insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10/339 participants, 3.0%);, while a lower incidence was found in females insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3 of 161 participants, 1.9%);. The patients between 45 and 60 years had the highest incidence rate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(6 of 53 participants, 11.3%, P<0.05);; while the patients between 25 and 44 years had an incidence rate of 4.2% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(7 of 166 participants);. Different HCV subtypes were also detected; 1a insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(two participants);, 2b insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(one participant);, 3a insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(two participants); and 3b insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(two participants);. Three of the patients had untypable insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(UT); HCV genotype variants. Conclusion: The study results suggest that; most of the cases were males and between 25 and 60-year-old. At the same time, several HCV subtypes are present in the inhabitants of the study area. Therefore, the presence of untypable genotypes may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties or failures. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 11insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4);:218-224.
Keywords : Genotypes, Hepatitis C Virus, incidence, Untypable