Detection the Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among Iraqi People

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide and remains a vital cause of chronic hepatitis. This study was aimed to detect the prevalence of HCV infection among Iraqi people. Four subjects of hemodialysis (HD) patients, thalassemia patients, blood donors and medical staff were enrolled in this study and evaluated for their serum anti-HCV-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibodies (Abs). The total frequency % of IgG anti-HCV Abs positivity was 3.2%, in which the highest frequency % was recorded among thalassemia patients followed by HD patients and then medical staff subjects, whereas the lowest frequency rate was reported within blood donors group. The frequencies of IgG anti-HCV Abs positivity were significantly elevated in males compared to females. For age groups, the results revealed higher infection rate of HCV among age group of 1-20 year followed by the age group of 21-40 year and then age group of 41-60 year, whereas the lowest rate of infection was recorded in age group >60 year. In conclusions, the prevalence rate of HCV infection among Iraqi people is similar to those in most of Asian and non-Asian studied populations and the infection rate was higher in males and inversely correlated with age of the patients. Blood transfusion, renal dialysis and health care workers (HCWs) were major sources of HCV infection. Thus, we recommend continuing surveillance of blood donors, HCWs and patients, in addition to HCV markers screening by molecular technique for the diagnosis of HCV during the window period in order to decrease the prevalence of HCV infection.

Prevalence of viral hepatitis amongst dental patients attending university dental clinics in Basrah

“…The prevalence of hepatitis C had been identified as 0.73% by our study. Similar low rate was also reported by the national prevalence of 0.4% in 2005 (Tarky et al, 2013).Higher incidence was reported among Thalassaemic patients (3.2%) (Khudhair et al, 2020). This can be attributed to regular blood transfusion taken by these patients which alert the need for better testing for blood donors.…”

“…The prevalence of hepatitis in Iraq is not correctly calculated because of the ongoing political, social, and economic instability in the area (Al-Rubaye et al, 2016). However, several studies have calculated the prevalence in different areas in Iraq for different groups (Al-Rubaye et al, 2016, Khudhair et al, 2020, Tarky et al, 2013, Ramadhan, 2018. The lateral flow test which is had been used in this study is considered as a rapid ,economic and simple method for detection of patients with viral hepatitis (Koczula and Gallotta, 2016).…”