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Published on: June 26, 2014
Hepatitis C virus genotype and its correlation with viral load in patients from Kathmandu, Nepal
Bhavesh Kumar Mishra1, Uday Narayan Yadav2, Saroj Khatiwada3
1Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. virobhavesh@gmail.com.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype distribution in Nepal shows genotype 3a is most common. A significant correlation was found between HCV genotype and viral load, aiding treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Hepatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Limited data exists on Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotype distribution and viral load correlation in Nepal.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for effective treatment decisions and predicting disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of HCV genotypes.
- To determine the correlation between HCV genotype and viral load in patients from Kathmandu, Nepal.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-six HCV-infected patients from Kathmandu were enrolled.
- HCV RNA was extracted from plasma, and viral load was measured using RT-PCR.
- HCV genotype was determined for each patient.
Main Results:
- Genotype 3a was the most prevalent (55.2%), followed by 1b (19.8%) and 1a (18.8%).
- A statistically significant correlation (p=0.02) was observed between HCV genotype and viral load.
- Genotype 3a exhibited a notably high viral load.
Conclusions:
- HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a, 5a, and mixed types were identified in Kathmandu.
- The study confirms a correlation between HCV genotype and viral load.
- These findings can inform hepatitis C treatment and prevention efforts in Nepal.
Introduction:
Knowledge about the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype and its correlation with viral load are important for the decision of treatment and the prediction of disease progression, however such information is very limited in Nepal. Here, we investigated the distribution of HCV genotypes and viral load for HCV-infected patients from Kathmandu, Nepal.
Methodology:
Ninety-six patients with HCV infection and not on antiviral therapy were enrolled from three different medical centers in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Demographics were recorded and blood samples were collected. Plasma was separated and HCV RNA was extracted. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to measure the viral load, and virus genotype was determined.
Results:
Genotype 3a (n = 53, 55.2%) was the most prevalent, followed by 1b (n = 19, 19.8%), 1a (n = 18, 18.8%), 5a (n = 3, 3.1%), and mix types (n = 3, 3.1%). The median viral load for HCV genotype 1a was 770,942 IU/mL (IQR, 215,268-3,720,075), 1b was 700,000 IU/mL (IQR, 431,560-919,000), 3a was 1,060,000 IU/mL (IQR, 641,050-6,063,500), 5a was 673,400 IU/mL, and mixed was 6,428,000 IU/mL. A correlation between genotype and viral load was observed (p = 0.02), of which genotype 3a showed a high viral load.
Conclusions:
HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a, and 5a were identified in Kathmandu, Nepal, and mixed genotype patients were observed in the patients studied. HCV genotype showed a correlation with viral load in patient plasma. This finding may contribute to the treatment and prevention of hepatitis C in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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