Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Bushehr province, Iran

K. Vahdat 1, H. Keyvani 2, S.M. Tabib 1, S. Rostamabadi 1, S.M. Valizadeh 1, S. Cheraghi 5, S. Shamsian 3, K. Zandi 4,5

1 The Persian Gulf Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr (Iran) 2 Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran (Iran) 3 Arya Virology Laboratory, Bushehr (Iran) 4 The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Centre, Bushehr (Iran) 5 Tropical and Infectious Disease Research and Education Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

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• Gastroenterology

Background and Objectives: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very important for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in Bushehr province (South West of Iran).

Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients who were detected as positive for HCV antibody (by using ELISA method and RIBA test) referred to Arya Virology Laboratory between 2007-2009 in order to molecular diagnosis and furthermore virus genotyping. After detection of HCV, RNA genotyping of virus was done by using genotype specific primers.

Results: Genotype 1a was found in 49% of the patients and genotype 3a was found in 40% of the patients and 1b in 5% of patients, while the genotype of the virus could not be identified in 5% of the patients. Finally, in 1% of patients coinfection due to 1a-3a genotypes was identified.

Conclusion: The dominant genotype of HCV in Bushehr province, Iran, was determined as 1a.

Corresponding Author: Keivan Zandi, Ph.D; e-mail: keivanzandi@yahoo.com