Author/Authors :
Khadempour-Arani, Hassan Student Research Committee - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran , Shojaeian, Ali Department of Molecular Medicine - School of Advanced Technologies - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran , Mehri‑Ghahfarrokhi, Ameneh Department of Molecular Medicine - School of Advanced Technologies - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran , Raeisi Shahraki, Hadi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - Faculty of Health - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran , Karimi, Abbas Department of Molecular Medicine - Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , Dehghan, Alireza Cancer Research Center - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran , Mobini, Gholam Reza Cellular and Molecular Research Center - Basic Health Sciences Institute - Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for liver failure which can lead to chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 170–200 million (almost 3% of the world’s population) people have
been reported to have HCV infection worldwide. HCV has six genotypes and multiple subtypes. HCV genotyping and identification
of subtypes are critical steps for HCV vaccine development. Materials and Methods: In this community‑based study, we aimed
to investigate the HCV genotypes in infected patients referring to the laboratory of Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord city (the capital
of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province) in Iran from November 21, 2016, to October 21, 2017. During 2016–2017, the sera were
obtained from 2377 individuals referring to the laboratory of Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord, Iran. The anti‑HCV antibody was
tested for all sera by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay test. Following HCV RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis, HCV genotype
detection was performed by quantitative reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction. Results: Genotypes 3, 1a, and 1b were
found in 28.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.0%–40.0%), 9.5% (95% CI: 2.1%–17.0%), and 3.2% (95% CI: 0.0%–7.6%) of the
patients, respectively. In 5 patients (7.9%, 95% CI: 1.1%–14.8%), however, we did not observe any genotypes. We could not find any
significant difference between the plasma viral load of infected patients and different genotypes. There was no significant difference
either between age groups and genotypes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study determined that HCV genotype 3
was the predominant genotype followed by the genotypes 1a and 1b in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.
