Title of article :
Distribution of HCV Genotypes and RNA Viral Load Along with
Hemato-Biochemical Analysis of HCV Patients in Rahim Yar Khan, Okara and Toba
Tek Singh Districts of Punjab, Pakistan
Author/Authors :
Hussain Firasat نويسنده , Ali Nasir نويسنده , Akmal Muhammad نويسنده , Ali Biabani Sardar Asad نويسنده Researcher & PMP Consultant, Centre of Research Excellence in Hajj & Umrah, HajjCoRE,Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia , Afridi Suliman Qadir نويسنده Department of Microbiology , University of veterinary and
animal sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan , Khan Nasar نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science
and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan , S. Attaullah نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science
and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan , Bahadar Sulaiman نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science
and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan , Aziz Abdul نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science
and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan , Awan Furqan نويسنده Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University
of veterinary and animal sciences, Lahore, 54000,
Pakistan , Muddassir Ali Muhammad نويسنده Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of
veterinary and animal sciences, Lahore, 54000,
Pakistan
Abstract :
Background HCV has very diverse genotypes in nature, divided into
variable number of subtypes. Due to epidemiologically divergent
subtypes, it shows diverse geographical distributions, which makes it
difficult to treat. This disease plays havoc with underdeveloped and
developing countries due to scarcity of data and poor awareness among
common people. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the geographical
distribution of HCV genotypes and RNA viral load along with
hemato-biochemical analysis of HCV patients in underdeveloped and
neglected areas of Punjab province, Pakistan. Results Out of 1115
samples, 583 (52.3%) from males and 532 (47.7%) from females were
declared as HCV RNA positive samples. In all the three regions, genotype
3 (46.3%) was found to be the most frequent genotype in both genders
followed by genotype 2 (28.9%), genotype 1 (12.5%), genotype 4 (2.2%),
genotype 5 (1.8%), genotype 6 (1.2%), untypeable genotypes (5.2%), and
mixed genotypes (2.41%). Most of the patients had viral load less than
600,000 IU/mL. Conclusions HCV genotype 3a is the most prevalent
genotype in various regions of Punjab. Effective HCV awareness programs
and novel therapeutic measures should be enforced to combat against HCV
infection. Moreover, geographical distribution and mapping of HCV in
Pakistan should be studied to develop better control strategies against
HCV infection.
