Genetic variability of human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) among Congolese co-infected with hepatitis C virus in Brazzaville, Congo.

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, and the genotype distribution of HPgV-1 among patients with chronic hepatitis C and blood donors in Brazzaville. Two groups of patients in Brazzaville were recruited: blood donors (n = 35) and individuals with chronic hepatitis C (n = 73). The overall positivity rate of HPgV-1 was 4.63%: 2.86% in blood donors and 5.48% in chronic hepatitis C patients. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all samples were genotype 1. However, studies with a larger sample size are needed to estimate the true burden of HPgV-1 infection in the country and to confirm the distribution of genotypes in the general population.