ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and its genotypic distribution in a rural area of Sindh, Pakistan. Retrospective study of patients attending the Free Liver Clinic [FLC], and investigated for detectable HCV antibodies [n=1638], and those screened for HCV infection prior to voluntary blood donation [n=804] at a teaching hospital, located in rural Sindh. All patients had HCV antibodies tested by ELISA. A total of 1022 patients, who tested 'reactive' to HCV antibodies, and who could financially afford to have HCV RNA tested by PCR, had their results analysed. A total of 200 patients also had their HCV genotyped and analysed. Patients at FLC had a higher chance of being reactive for HCV antibodies, compared to voluntary blood donors [20% VS 14% - p = 0.004]. HCV RNA was detectable in 904/1022 [88%] patients. Among typeable genotypes, 125/166 [75%] had a single genotype, and 7 patients [4%] were infected with genotype 1, either alone [n=4] or in combination with 3a. One out of every five people tested in our FLC, and 14% of "healthy" voluntary blood donors were seropositive for HCV antibodies. Genotype 1 is very rare in our region