Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among patients with hepatitis C infection in Khuzestan province

Identification of the infecting virus genotype has become relevant in the investigation of many aspects of HCV infection, including epidemiology, pathogenesis, and response to antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes in Khuzestan province. Two hundred and eighty patients (188 men and 92 women; mean age 33 ± 9.2 years) with chronic hepatitis C infection were included. Type-specific Multiplex nested-PCR for HCV genotyping was used.The genotypes 1a, 1b, 3a and 1a+1b were present in 46.4% (130), 16.1% (45), 35.4% (99) and 2.1% (6) of the patients, respectively. The genotypes 2a and 2b were not found in the study population. Furthermore, was no significant correlation was found among HCV genotype frequency with gender or age of the patients. The results of this study indicate that the dominant HCV genotype among hepatitis C patients living Khuzestan province is 1a.