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The prevalence of hepatitis C virus in mashhad, iran: a population-based study

Mohammad Taghi Shakeri1, Hosein Nomani, Majid Ghayour Mobarhan

  • 1Department of Biostatistics, Public Health School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.

Hepatitis Monthly
|June 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence is less than 1% in Mashhad, Iran. This study assessed HCV seropositivity in the general population using ELISA and RT-PCR methods.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Virology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a global health challenge, with chronic infections leading to severe liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • The absence of an HCV vaccine necessitates effective control measures, highlighting the importance of epidemiological studies for disease management.
  • Understanding HCV's spread is crucial for community-level interventions and monitoring infection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C seropositivity in the general population of Mashhad, located in northeast Iran.
  • To provide essential data for public health strategies aimed at controlling HCV transmission in the region.

Main Methods:

  • A cluster sampling method was employed to recruit 3870 individuals from the general population of Mashhad.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity was initially assessed using an HCV antibody detection ELISA kit.
  • Results from ELISA were confirmed using the more sensitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to accurately determine HCV infection prevalence.

Main Results:

  • The overall seroprevalence of hepatitis C, detected by ELISA, was found to be 0.2%.
  • Confirmation using RT-PCR revealed a lower overall prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection at 0.13%.
  • Both methods indicated a low prevalence rate of HCV in the studied population.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence rate of Hepatitis C virus infection in the general population of Mashhad is below 1%.
  • These findings are critical for informing public health policies and interventions in the region.
  • Continued surveillance is recommended to monitor and manage HCV infection effectively.
Abstract

Keywords:
Hepatitis CIranPopulation GroupsPrevalence

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