Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype in general population of Peshawar District Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan

Hepatitis C is a blood born infectious disease caused by a small (50 nm in size), enveloped, positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus known as hepatitis C virus (HCV). It belongs to genus hepacivirus in the family Flaviviridae. HCV has six major genotypes. HCV spreads through blood to blood contact and no vaccine against this virus has been developed until now. Most of the people unfortunately develop chronic infection and it leads HCC. In current study, the HCV prevalence and its genotype was determined in the general population of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Blood samples were collected randomly from general public of various age groups for the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV genotype infection employing immune chromatographic assays and multiplex-PCR techniques. Our study reports an overall prevalence of HCV as 19.48% with 1.9%, 3.33%, 7.4% and 6.36% in age groups ≤ 20, 21-40 and ≥ 41 respectively. The highest prevalence of HCV was observed in age group ranging from 21-40 (28.0%) followed by age group ≤ 20 (9.52%). The prevalence of active HCV infection in male population (23.80%) was higher compared with the females (14.2%). In the present study, we conclude that HCV genotype 3b is the most prevalence genotype circulating in this region. Regional difference do exists in HCV genotypes. Majority of the infected patients are young ages between 31-40 years old. These alarming results call for a nationwide screening for HCV infection in general population.