Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Iran as reflected by phylogenetic analysis of the NS5B region

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes were determined in 125 Iranian patients by phylogenetic analysis within the NS5B or 5'-UTR/core regions. Subtypes 1a and 3a were predominant accounting for 47 and 36%, whereas 1b and 4 accounted for 8 and 7%. This subtype distribution differs from that of Turkey and Pakistan, where subtypes 1b and 3a dominate and also from neighbouring Arabic countries where subtype 4 is the prevalent genotype. The Iranian 1a and 3a strains formed subclusters in the dendrogram indicating that these subtypes are indigenous to Iran. In contrast, the 1b strains intermixed with strains derived worldwide. Subtype 1a was frequent in South Iran (70%), while 3a was more prevalent in North-West Iran (83%), a region with a high proportion of Turkish inhabitants. Patients infected by blood products had more frequently subtype 1a (57%), while younger drug users had more frequently subtype 3a (54%). Genotype 4 was over-represented among haemodialysis patients in Tehran. One strain, most similar to genotype 5, was highly divergent in the NS5B region and further analysis is needed to assess the systematic status of this strain. In half of the patients with unknown source of infection only the 5'-UTR could be amplified, most of which were from North-West Iran and from patients younger than those with unknown source of infection with typable strains, mean age 29 versus 43 years. In conclusion, the NS5B sequence data revealed population based subtype patterns in Iran, the further study of which may help to understand the molecular epidemiology of HCV in a low-endemic area.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in haemodialysis patients of Guilan, northern Islamic Republic of Iran

“…This is in accordance with Zali et al's study, the first study on prevalence of HCV genotyping from Iranian population, conducted on Tehran haemodialysis patients [8]. Later, Samimi-Rad et al, in a survey on Iranian anti-HCV positive patients from Tehran and 5 other cities of the country, showed that genotype 1a was predominant (47%) and genotypes 3a, 1b and 4 were detected in 36%, 8% and 7% of the patients respectively [10]. In another study at 45 haemodialysis centres of Tehran, Hosseini-Moghaddam et al revealed that 3a (30.3%) and 1a (28.8%) were the most prevalent genotypes, and 1b, 3b and 4 accounted for 18.2%, 3.0%, and 16.7% respectively [9].…”

“…Previous studies from Islamic Republic of Iran have shown that genotypes 1a and 3a are the most common genotypes in our country [6,[8][9][10]. This is different from the dominant genotypes of other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region [6,11,12].…”

Identification of HCV genotypes in HCV infected blood donors

“…One patient was with genotype 4 [11]. The results of other studies on circulating HCV genotypes in the Iranian patients showed that genotypes 1a,3a and 1b are predominant respectively and that type 4 is rare [12,13].…”

Epidemiology and viral risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in the Eastern Mediterranean countries

“…Turkey serves as a bridge between Europe and Asia, and HCV genotype pattern is similar to Eastern and Southern European countries, having genotype 1b as the most frequent genotype (> 70%) followed by genotype 1a [62] . HCV genotype 3a is the most common subtype in Iran followed by genotype 1a, 1b and 4 [63] . The predominant genotypes (1a and 4) are the most difficult-to-treat groups.…”