DAA Treatment Failure in a HIV/HBV/HCV Co-Infected Patient Carrying a Chimeric HCV Genotype 4/1b

Approved direct antiviral agent (DAA) combinations are associated with high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and the absence of a detectable hepatitis C viral load 12-24 weeks after treatment discontinuation. However, a low percentage of individuals fail DAA therapy. Here, we report the case of a HIV/HBV/HCV co-infected patient who failed to respond to DAA pangenotypic combination therapy. The sequencing of NS5a, NS5b, NS3 and core regions evidenced a recombinant intergenotypic strain 4/1b with a recombination crossover point located inside the NS3 region. The identification of this natural recombinant virus underlines the concept that HCV recombination, even if it occurs rarely, may play a key role in the virus fitness and evolution.