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Hepatitis C: prevalence and common genotypes among ethnic groups in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

M Fakeeh1, A M Zaki

  • 1Internal Medicine Department, Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|February 16, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody prevalence was 6.75% overall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Egyptians had the highest HCV infection rate (22.54%), with genotype 4 being predominant in both Egyptians and Saudis.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a significant global health challenge.
  • Understanding HCV prevalence and genotypes is crucial for effective control strategies.
  • Previous data on HCV epidemiology in Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions were limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of antibodies to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a diverse patient population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • To identify the distribution of different HCV genotypes within the studied population.
  • To compare HCV prevalence across different nationalities and patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 3,350 serum samples.
  • Samples were collected from outpatient clinics, preoperative patients, and antenatal care attendees between January and September 1998.
  • Third-generation ELISA was used for antibody detection, and genotyping was performed on positive samples.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of HCV antibodies was 6.75%.
  • Prevalence varied significantly by nationality: Egyptians (22.54%), Saudis (5.87%), Yemenis (2.12%), and other Middle Eastern/Asian countries (3.38%-4.98%).
  • In Saudi Arabia, HCV genotype 4 (45.9%) and 1a (40.6%) were most common. In Egypt, genotype 4 was highly prevalent (91.6%).

Conclusions:

  • HCV infection represents a considerable public health issue in Jeddah, with notable variations in prevalence among different nationalities.
  • Genotype 4 is the predominant HCV type among Egyptians and a significant type among Saudis in this region.
  • Targeted screening and intervention strategies may be necessary, considering the high prevalence in specific ethnic groups like Egyptians.

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