Open AccessSeroprevalence, Genotyping, and Monitoring of Hepatitis C Viral Loads in Patients on Antivirals in Burkina Faso
Author(s) -
Yelemkoure Edwige T.,
Yonli Albert T.,
Sombie Hermann K.,
Tao Issoufou,
Zouré Abdou Azaque,
Ouattara Abdoul Karim,
Sorgho Abel P.,
Zongo Arsène W.,
Zeba Moctar T.A.,
Kiendrebeogo Isabelle T.,
Bado Prosper,
Kabré Madeleine K.,
Zohoncon Théodora M.,
Djigma Florencia W.,
Obiri-Yeboah Dorcas,
Simpore Jacques
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
intervirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.641
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1423-0100
pISSN - 0300-5526
DOI - 10.1159/000519848
Subject(s) - research article
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major public health problem worldwide. In Burkina Faso, nearly 720,000 people are living with HCV, and each year about 900 people die from complications of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was planned to determine the HCV seroprevalence, characterize circulating genotypes, and monitor HCV viral loads in patients under treatment with antivirals. Methods: A total of 4,124 individuals and 167 patients in the pre-therapy program were recruited. The “SD Bioline HCV” kit was used for rapid screening of anti-HCV antibodies. Viral load and genotyping were performed in 167 HCV patients on antivirals using the “Iontek HCV Quant” and “Iontek genotyping” kits. Results: Prevalence of HCV was 1.65% (68/4,124), and the median viral load of participants was 5.37 log10/mL (1.32–7.67 log10/mL). Genotype 2 was predominant with a frequency of 86.23% (144/167) and appeared to be more active with higher viral load compared to 13.77% (23/167) for genotype 1 ( p < 0.001). After 24 weeks of pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals, such as sofosbuvir/daclatasvir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, the viral loads of all patients became undetectable. Conclusion: The responses to antivirals by the circulating genotypes indicate that the results are very satisfactory. Therefore, the prevalence of HCV in the population can be reduced through identification of cases and treatment.