Open AccessLow prevalence of HCV infection with predominance of genotype 4 among HIV patients living in Libreville, Gabon
Author(s) -
Angélique Ndjoyi-Mbiguino,
Arnaud John Kombe Kombe,
Berthold Bivigou-Mboumba,
Samira Zoa-Assoumou,
Falone Larissa Akombi,
Francis Nzengui Nzengui,
Hervé M’boyis Kamdem,
Sandrine François-Souquière
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0190529
Subject(s) - ns5b , seroprevalence , hepatitis c virus , virology , viral load , genotype , population , medicine , hepatitis c , immunology , confidence interval , hepacivirus , biology , virus , serology , antibody , genetics , environmental health , gene
Background Gabon is an endemic area for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the risk of co-infection is high. Method Between November 2015 and April 2016, we conducted retrospective study on HCV infection among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). A total of 491 PLHA were included in this study and tested for the presence of HCV infection. HIV viral loads were obtained using the Generic HIV viral Load® assay and the CD4+ T cells count was performed using BD FACSCount™ CD4 reagents. HCV screening was performed using the MP Diagnostics HCV ELISA 4.0 kit. HCV genotypes were determined by sequence analysis of NS5B and Core regions. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the groups. Chi-2 test and Fisher's Exact Test were used to compare prevalence. Results HCV seroprevalence was 2.9% (14/491), (95% confidence interval (CI):1.4–4.3%). The percentage of HCV viremic patients, defined by the detection of HCV RNA in plasma, was 57% (8/14), representing 1.6% of the total population. HCV seroprevalence and replicative infection were not statistically differ with gender. The percentage of co-infection increased with age. No correlation with CD4+ T cells count and HIV viral load level was registered in this study. Identified HCV strains were predominantly of genotype 4 (87.5%) including 4k, 4e, 4g, 4p, 4f and 4c subtypes. Only one strain belonged to genotype 2 (subtype 2q). Analysis of the NS5B region did not reveal the presence of resistance-associated substitutions for sofosbuvir. Conclusion A systematic screening of hepatitis C is therefore strongly recommended as well as genotyping of HCV strains in order to adapt treatments for the specific case of people living with HIV/AIDS in Central Africa.