Prevalence of active HCV infection and genotypic distribution among the general population of district Mardan, Pakistan

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the serious global public health burden of liver disease. Approximately 170 million people in world are infected with (HCV). In Pakistan, where disease has high occurrence rate. The present study envisages an up-to-date prevalence HCV and genotypic distribution general population Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. blood samples from 6,538 individuals including 3,263 males 3,275 females were analyzed for hepatitis surface antigen by Immuno-chromatographic test (ICT), Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was found that 396 (12.13%) out 3263 contained antibodies their against HCV, while among different age groups, highest incidences 31-40 group (11.01%). ICT positive further screened nested PCR to determine existence active HCV-RNA. identified 7.11% (3263) total (6538) tested positive, which 461 (14.07%) possessed HCV. Our data showed infection investigated 5.78%. Higher percentage detected than 41-50. To compare genotypes age-wise male female genotype 3a most prevalent followed 1a, 2a 3b, respectively.