Identification of hepatitis C virus genotypes in volunteer blood donors from blood transfusion center of Tuban, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

@#Aims: The most common transmission route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is via blood transfusion. Therefore, the screening of HCV is necessary to be performed regularly for all the volunteer blood donors. The prevalence of HCV subtypes varies in different geographical areas. The aim of this study is to identify the HCV genotypes of the HCV-RNA positive samples and performed serological and molecular characterization of HCV among blood donors from Blood Transfusion Center of Tuban, East Java, Indonesia collected during the year of 2015. Methodology and results: All blood donor samples were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HCV. Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect the HCV-RNA. Subsequently, the HCV-RNA positive samples were genotyped using direct sequencing followed by subtype/genotype and phylogenetic analysis. Of the 500 blood samples, 7 were positive for anti-HCV antibody (1.4%) and 6 out of 7 (85.71%) were determined to be HCV-RNA positive. Among HCV-RNA carriers, genotyping showed genotypes 1 was the most prevalent. HCV subtypes 1a and 1b were detected in total of 4 out of 6 individuals (66.67%), two individuals for each. HCV subtypes 2a and genotype 1 were the least frequent among blood donors (each counted for 16.67%). Conclusion, significance and impact for study The prevalence of HCV found in this study is considerably low. The identification of genotypes 1a and 1b as major HCV genotypes circulating in blood donors in the Tuban city of East Java. This result may contribute in a better medical management towards HCV carriers.