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Change in hepatitis C virus clades: A cross-sectional study of chronic HCV patients in Pakistan from 2000–2010

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases volume 30, pages 669–672 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

The changing pattern in hepatitis C virus (HCV) clades overtime is not well known in Pakistan. To find out the changing pattern of different HCV clades over time in this country 22,125 patients were genotyped and tracked for a period of 11 years (2000–2010). A changing pattern in HCV clades was seen in this region during the study period. Sub-clade 3a remained the dominant sub-clade circulating in different areas of the country in the study era. HCV sub-clade 3a demonstrated significantly high correlation with time (p < 0.05) whereas undetermined clades were seen with statistically non-significant correlation with time (years). All the other clades showed negative correlation with time. In general a significant decline was observed in the percentages of HCV clades 2, 4, 5 and 6 (p < 0.001). Among sub-clades, HCV 1a, 2c, 2b and 3b significantly decreased overtime (p < 0.05), while an increase has been observed for HCV 3a sub-clade and mixed clades (p <0.001). The ratio of undetermined clades remained constant over the study period. In conclusion, a changing pattern of HCV clades was observed over the 11-year study period, and this changed pattern might have direct impact on HCV disease outcome.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the clinicians and patients for their cooperation in the study. This project was partially supported by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of Pakistan.

None of the authors who participated in this study have commercial or other associations that might pose conflict of interest.

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  1. Division of Molecular Virology & Molecular Diagnostics, National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab Lahore, 87-West Canal Bank Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, 53700, Pakistan

    S. Butt, M. Idrees, M. Shahid, I. Amin, S. Younas, S. Afzal, H. Akbar & I. ur Rehman

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  1. S. Butt
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  2. M. Idrees
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  3. M. Shahid
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  4. I. Amin
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  5. S. Younas
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  6. S. Afzal
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  7. H. Akbar
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  8. I. ur Rehman
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Correspondence to M. Idrees.

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Butt, S., Idrees, M., Shahid, M. et al. Change in hepatitis C virus clades: A cross-sectional study of chronic HCV patients in Pakistan from 2000–2010. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 30, 669–672 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-1138-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-1138-1

Keywords

  • Sustainable Virological Response
  • Sustainable Virological Response Rate
  • Base Genotyping Method
  • Untypable Genotype