Prevalence and geographic distribution of Hepatitis C Virus genotypes in Indian patient cohort

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), poses a significant global health challenge, with millions affected worldwide and a substantial burden in India.
• HCV genotypes are critical for predicting treatment response, patient prognosis, and understanding infection transmission routes, yet their distribution in India remains under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and distribution of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes across diverse geographic regions in India.
• To provide essential data on HCV genotype patterns to inform clinical management and public health strategies within the Indian subcontinent.

Main Methods:

• HCV genotyping was performed on 2118 patients from various Indian regions.
• HCV detection involved PCR amplification of the 5' UTR and core-envelope1 regions.
• Genotyping utilized nucleotide sequencing and analysis via the NCBI genotyping tool.

Main Results:

• Hepatitis C Virus genotype 3 (primarily 3a/3b) was the most prevalent, found in 62% of patients.
• Hepatitis C Virus genotype 1 (primarily 1a/1b) was the second most common, detected in 31% of patients.
• HCV genotype 3 showed a significant predominance in the northern (p=0.01) and eastern (p=0.008) regions of India, while genotypes 2, 4, 5, and 6 were found at lower frequencies (0.05-4.5%).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully determined the HCV genotype prevalence in a large cohort across India, highlighting the dominance of HCV3 and HCV1.
• The findings underscore the regional variations in HCV genotype distribution within India, emphasizing the need for geographically tailored public health interventions.
• This research provides a foundational understanding of HCV epidemiology in India, crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and disease control efforts.