Differential prevalence and geographic distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in acute and chronic hepatitis C patients in Vietnam.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:The highest burden of disease from hepatitis C virus (HCV) is found in
Southeast Asia, but our understanding of the epidemiology of infection in many heavily
burdened countries is still limited. In particular, there is relatively little data
on acute HCV infection, the outcome of which can be influenced by both viral and host
genetics which differ within the region. We studied HCV genotype and IL28B gene polymorphism
in a cohort of acute HCV-infected patients in Southern Vietnam alongside two other
cohorts of chronic HCV-infected patients to better understand the epidemiology of
HCV infection locally and inform the development of programs for therapy with the
increasing availability of directly acting antiviral therapy (DAAs). METHODS:We analysed
plasma samples from patients with acute and chronic HCV infection, including chronic
HCV mono-infection and chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-HCV coinfection,
who enrolled in four epidemiological or clinical research studies. HCV infection was
confirmed with RNA testing. The 5' UTR, core and NSB5 regions of HCV RNA positive
samples were sequenced, and the genotype and subtype of the viral strains were determined.
Host DNA from all HCV positive patients and age- and sex-matched non-HCV-infected
control individuals were analysed for IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs12979860
and rs8099917). Geolocation of the patients were mapped using QGIS. RESULTS:355 HCV
antibody positive patients were analysed; 54.6% (194/355) and 46.4% (161/355) were
acute and chronic infections, respectively. 50.4% (81/161) and 49.6.4% (80/161) of
chronic infections had HCV mono-infection and HIV-HCV coinfection, respectively. 88.7%
(315/355) and 10.1% (36/355) of the patients were from southern and central regions
of Vietnam, respectively. 92.4% (328/355) of patients were HCV RNA positive, including
86.1% (167/194) acute and 100% (161/161) chronic infections. Genotype could be determined
in 98.4% (322/328) patients. Genotypes 1 (56.5%; 182/322) and 6 (33.9%; 109/322) predominated.
Genotype 1 including genotype 1a was significantly higher in HIV-HCV coinfected patients
compared to acute HCV patients [43.8% (35/80) versus 20.5% (33/167)], (p = <0.001),
while genotype 6 was significantly higher in chronic HCV mono-infected patients [(44.4%
(36/81) versus 20.0% (16/80)] (p = < 0.004) compared to HIV-HCV coinfected patients.
The prevalence of IL28B SNP (rs12979860) homozygous CC was 86.46% (83/96) in control
individuals and was significantly higher in acutely-infected compared to chronically-infected
patients [93.2 (82/88) versus 76.1% (35/46)] (p = < 0.005). CONCLUSION:HCV genotype
6 is highly prevalent in Vietnam and the high prevalence in treatment naïve chronic
HCV patients may results from poor spontaneous clearance of acute HCV infection with
genotype 6.
Type
Journal articleSubject
VIZIONS consortiumHumans
Hepacivirus
HIV-1
Hepatitis C, Chronic
HIV Infections
Acute Disease
RNA, Viral
Prevalence
Genotype
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Middle Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Vietnam
Female
Male
Coinfection
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21280Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1371/journal.pone.0212734Publication Info
Le Ngoc, Chau; Tran Thi Thanh, Thanh; Tran Thi Lan, Phuong; Nguyen Mai, Trinh; Nguyen
Hoa, Trang; Nghiem My, Ngoc; ... VIZIONS consortium (2019). Differential prevalence and geographic distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes
in acute and chronic hepatitis C patients in Vietnam. PloS one, 14(3). pp. e0212734. 10.1371/journal.pone.0212734. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21280.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Thuy Le
Associate Professor of Medicine

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