Genetic Diversity of HCV among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Ahvaz City, Southwest of Iran

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are major global public health problems. Because of overlapping modes of transmission, HCV co-infection is common in HIV infected individuals. The aim of this study was to determine genomic subtype of HCV in confirmed HIV/HCV positive samples. Methods and Materials: A registry of 1237 patients with HIV-1 infection was launched until September 2016 in HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) center in Ahvaz city. All records were retrieved and only 390 patients were referred to the center. The sample inclusion criteria were adult patients, who had at least one appointment in the previous 12 months and were co-infected by HCV. Finally, 229 HIV/HCV co-infected patients were followed-up. All HIV/HCV co-infected patients invited to participate in this study from September to November 2016 (3 month). Finally, only 90 eligible patients were enrolled. The HCV antibody was determined using the third-generation enzyme immunoassays (DIA.PRO Diagnostic, Bioprobes Srl, Milan, Italy). HIV-1 infection was diagnosed by using rapid HIV test followed by both ELISA and Western blot confirmatory tests, in accordance with the HIV national algorithms in Iran. HCV genotyping done by direct sequencing of core region using nested RT–PCR based assay. In cases of failure of core region genotyping, 5′UTR region was amplified by using nested PCR. Results: Among 90 HIV-HCV co-infected patients, according to the anti-HCV test, the infection was confirmed based on a positive HCV core RNA for 64 (71.2%) participants. From cases of failure, 5′UTR RNA was detected in 3 cases. In total, the presence of HCV-RNA was confirmed in 67 (74.5%) samples.The analysis revealed the presence of genotype 1a in 37 (55.2%), 3a in 24 (35.8%), 3h in three (4.5%), 1b in two (3%), 4a in one (1.5%) subjects. Conclusions: The most prevalent genotype in HIV/HCV co-infected patients was genotype 1a.

Keywords:

HIV , HCV , Coinfection , Genotypes