1Department of Biotechnology University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw, Pakistan.
Virol J. 2011 Oct 9;8:466. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-466.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotype and viral load are two significant predictive variables knowledge of which might persuade treatment decisions. The objective of the present study was to identify the distribution of different HCV genotypes circulating in the study area and to estimate viral load in chronically HCV infected patients. Out of total 305 HCV positive patients, 177 (58%) were males and 128 (42%) were females. Frequency breakup of the HCV positive patients was 169, 69, 38 and 29 from Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur and Battagram districts respectively. Out of the total 305 tested serum samples, 255 (83.06%) were successfully genotyped whereas 50 (16.4%) samples were found with unclassified genotypes. Among typable genotypes, 1a accounted for 21 (6.8%) 1b for 14 (4.6%), 2a for 4 (1.31%) 3a for 166 (54.42%) and genotype 3b for (8.19%). Twenty five (8.19%) patients were infected with mixed HCV genotypes. Viral load distribution was classified into three categories based on its viral load levels such as low (< 60, 0000 IU/mL), intermediate (60,0000-80,0000 IU/mL) and high (> 80,0000 IU/mL). The baseline HCV RNA Viral load in HCV genotype 3 infected patients was 50 (26.17%), 46 (24.08%) and 95 (49.73%) for low, intermediate and high categories respectively. For genotypes other than 3, these values for low, intermediate and high viral load categories were 50 (43.85), 35 (30.70) and 29 (25.43) respectively. Pre-treatment viral load in patients with untypable genotype was 19 (38.00%), 5 (20.00%) and 11 (44.00%) for low, intermediate and high viral load categories. Viral load distribution was also categorized sex wise; for males it was 58 (32.76%), 26 (14.68%) and 93 (52.54%) whereas for females it was 40 (31.25%), 34 (26.56%) and 54 (42.18%) for low, intermediate and high viral load respectively. In conclusion HCV genotype 3a is the most prevalent genotype circulating in Hazara Division like other parts of pakistan. Pre-treatment viral load is significantly high (p 0.014) in patients infected with HCV genotype 3 as compared to other genotypes.
丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV) 基因型和病毒载量是两个重要的预测变量，了解这些变量可能会影响治疗决策。本研究的目的是确定研究区域中循环的不同 HCV 基因型的分布，并估计慢性 HCV 感染患者的病毒载量。在 305 例 HCV 阳性患者中，男性 177 例（58%），女性 128 例（42%）。HCV 阳性患者的频率分别为：阿伯塔巴德 169 例、曼塞赫拉 69 例、哈里普尔 38 例和巴塔哥姆 29 例。在 305 例检测的血清样本中，255 例（83.06%）成功进行了基因分型，而 50 例（16.4%）样本的基因型未分类。在可分型的基因型中，1a 占 21 例（6.8%），1b 占 14 例（4.6%），2a 占 4 例（1.31%），3a 占 166 例（54.42%），3b 占 8.19%。25 例（8.19%）患者感染了混合 HCV 基因型。根据病毒载量水平，病毒载量分布分为低（<60,0000 IU/mL）、中（60,0000-80,0000 IU/mL）和高（>80,0000 IU/mL）三个类别。HCV 基因型 3 感染患者的基线 HCV RNA 病毒载量分别为低、中、高载量组的 50（26.17%）、46（24.08%）和 95（49.73%）。对于非 3 型基因型，低、中、高病毒载量组的这些值分别为 50（43.85%）、35（30.70%）和 29（25.43%）。未分类基因型患者的治疗前病毒载量分别为低、中、高载量组的 19（38.00%）、5（20.00%）和 11（44.00%）。病毒载量也按性别分类；男性为 58（32.76%）、26（14.68%）和 93（52.54%），女性为 40（31.25%）、34（26.56%）和 54（42.18%），分别为低、中、高病毒载量组。总之，HCV 基因型 3a 是哈扎拉分部（Hazara Division）与巴基斯坦其他地区一样流行的最常见基因型。与其他基因型相比，感染 HCV 基因型 3 的患者的治疗前病毒载量明显较高（p<0.014）。
