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Hepatitis C Genotype Prevalence in Monastir Region, Tunisia: Correlation between 5′ Untranslated Region (5′UTR), Non-structural 5B (NS5B), and Core Sequences in HCV Subtyping

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causative agent of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It constitutes a major public health around the world. There is no vaccine available against HCV, and current therapies are effective in only small percentage of patients. HCV has wide population-specific genotype variability. Genotype knowledge and viral load assessment are equally important for designing therapeutic strategies. Taking into account that the molecular epidemiology of HCV variants circulating in Tunisia is not yet well elucidated, and that, at present, little is known about the distribution pattern of HCV in Monastir region (Tunisia), we aimed, herein, to evaluate the prevalence of HCV genotypes in Monastir and to identify risk-related factors. For this purpose, 50 anti-HCV antibody-positive cases were diagnosed and subjected to viral RNA extraction, amplification, genotyping, and viral load quantification. Molecular epidemiology was studied by 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) sequencing as compared with the non-structural 5B (NS5B) and core region sequences. Overall concordance between 5′ UTR, core, and NS5B sequencing was 100 %. The highest prevalent genotype was 1b (50 %) followed by genotypes 1a (16 %), 4a (12 %), 2a (10 %), 2c (8 %), and 3a (4 %). Interestingly, the subtype 1b had a statistically significant higher viral load than the other genotypes followed by subtype 1a. Based on these data, this study revealed a high prevalence of HCV genotype 1 (subtypes 1b and 1a) compared to other genotypes. A continued monitoring of HCV and knowledge of circulating genotypes could impact on future vaccine formulations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of participating patients. This study was funded by the French Institute of Tunisia in collaboration with Campus France—The National Agency for the Promotion of French Higher Education Abroad, as a part of scientific scholarship senior (Séjour Scientifique de Haut Niveau “SSHN” 2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 09 Sreet Zouhair Essafi, 1006, Tunis, Tunisia

    Amira Souii

  2. Laboratory of Microbiology of the University Hospital Center Fattouma Bourguiba of Monastir, Avenue Farhat HACHED, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Aida Elargoubi & Maha Mastouri

  3. Institute of Structural Biology (Ibs), University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, 38044 Grenoble, Street of Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France

    Catherine Fallecker & Emmanuel Drouet

  4. Laboratory of Contagious Diseases and Biologically Active Substances, LR99 - ES27, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Avicenne Street, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Maha Mastouri

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  1. Amira Souii
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Correspondence to Amira Souii.

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Souii, A., Elargoubi, A., Fallecker, C. et al. Hepatitis C Genotype Prevalence in Monastir Region, Tunisia: Correlation between 5′ Untranslated Region (5′UTR), Non-structural 5B (NS5B), and Core Sequences in HCV Subtyping. Curr Microbiol 73, 324–334 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-016-1064-2

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