Hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Central-West Tunisia: a population-based cross-sectional study

Bettaieb, Jihéne; Chouikha, Anissa; Khedhiri, Marwa; Kharroubi, Ghassen; Badreddine, Malek; Hmida, Nabil Bel Hadj; Gharbi, Alya; Hammemi, Walid; Sadraoui, A.; Yahia, Ahlem Ben; Meddeb, Zina; Salah, Afif Ben; Triki, Henda

doi:10.1007/s00705-019-04308-8

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…HCV genotypes 1 and 3 were the most prevalent genotypes (85%) with a predominance of subtype 1a overall. In contrast, previous studies conducted in the general population, either in Tunisia or in some neighboring countries from the Maghreb region, have shown a predominance of subtype 1b followed by subtype 2c (Djebbi et al, 2003(Djebbi et al, , 2004Mejri et al, 2005;Ezzikouri et al, 2013;Bettaieb et al, 2019;Chouikha et al, 2021). In this study, there were very few cases of subtype 1b detected among PWID, while genotype 2 was not detected at all.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Distribution of HCV Genotypes Among People Who Inject Drugs in Tunisia: New Evidence for Scaling Up Prevention and Treatment Toward National Elimination Goal

et al. 2021

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Little is known about the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among people who inject drugs (PWID) in North African countries, including Tunisia. This study aims to describe HCV genotypes circulating among Tunisian PWID. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 128 HCV-positive PWID were recruited between 2018 and 2019 from community-based harm reduction centers. After informed consent, sociodemographic characteristics and risk behavior data were obtained using an interviewer-administrated questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for further serological and molecular testing. Overall, five women and 123 men were included. The median age was 39.5 years. The majority of PWID (56.3%) had less than a secondary level of education, were single (57%), were unemployed (65.6%), were incarcerated at least once (93.0%), and had a history of residency in at least one foreign country (50.8%). During the previous 12 months, 82.0% reported having reused syringes at least once, 43.8% shared syringes at least once, while 56.2% had at least one unprotected sexual relation, and 28.1% had more than two different sexual partners. Tattooing was reported among 60.2%. All positive results for HCV-infection by rapid testing were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV-RNA was detectable in 79.7%. Genotyping showed a predominance of genotype 1 (52%) followed by genotype 3 (34%) and genotype 4 (10%). Four patients (4%) had an intergenotype mixed infection. Subtyping showed the presence of six different HCV subtypes as follows: 1a (53.2%), 1b (6.4%), 3a (33.0%), 4a (3.2%), and 4d (4.3%). This is the first study describing circulating HCV genotypes among PWID in Tunisia. The distribution of HCV genotypes is distinct from the general population with a predominance of subtypes 1a and 3a. These findings can be used to guide national efforts aiming to optimize the access of PWID to relevant HCV prevention and treatment measures including pangenotypic regimens for patients infected with HCV genotype 3.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Distribution of HCV Genotypes Among People Who Inject Drugs in Tunisia: New Evidence for Scaling Up Prevention and Treatment Toward National Elimination Goal

et al. 2021

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“…The reason why HCV infection is prevalent among rural areas because there is a high crowding index, low socioeconomic status exists, and lack of knowledge. This agrees with previous studies locally and internationally (8,12,13) . We found that the incidence of intrafamilial transmission was the highest from parents, followed by siblings, then husbands and wives.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…The remarkable personal risk factors of HCV were old age; marriage; rural residence and high crowding index. These findings agree with Bettaieb et al who proved that increasing age was associated with an increasing prevalence of HCV infection (8) . Another Egyptian study had identified the role of HCV transmission among household contacts to index cases; they found that HCV-positive contacts were more likely older; married and had higher crowding index than HCV-negative contacts (9).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Intrafamilial Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus among Household Members of Hepatitis C Virus Patients

Tolba

Hassan

Sheded

et al. 2020

Suez Canal University Medical Journal

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Background: Egypt is considered one of the highly endemic countries with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. Since we are moving into the HCV-free era, it is necessary to acknowledge the most common methods of HCV transmission. Intrafamilial transmission is one important method that hugely contributed to that endemicity. Aim: Our aim is to identify the prevalence of intrafamilial transmission of HCV among household contacts of chronic HCV patients, risk factors, and methods of transmission. Subjects and Methods: In this study, we recruited 807 Household members of 228 chronic HCV patients. Eligible participants were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and blood testing for HCV antibodies and PCR. Results: We found that HCV infection was more prevalent among older age groups; married; who live in rural residence; and having high crowding index. Among relatives with HCV, parents were the most affected, followed by siblings, then husbands or wives. The longer the duration of contact, the higher the risk of infection. The incidence of HCV infection was significantly higher among patients who did the following activities: Sharing shaving machine and sugar measurement device with HCVinfected family members, sharing towels with family members, and Handshaking/kissing HCVinfected relatives. Conclusions: Intrafamilial transmission of HCV is an undeniable risk factor, which amplified the burden of HCV. Recognition of remarkable modes of intrafamilial transmission would facilitate suppression of infectivity, as a result achieving the ambition of an HCV-free Egypt.

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“…The result of a modeling study in 2016 showed the global prevalence of HBsAg-positive HB was 3.9% (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 3.4-4.6) [3]. Finally, the highest rates of HB are reported in Africa and East Asia [4][5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiologic profile of viral hepatitis B and C in North of Iran: results from PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

et al. 2021

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Objective Hepatitis B (HB) and C (HC) are two severe viral infectious diseases with a deleterious impact on global health. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HB and HC in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies of the Iranian Adults (PERSIAN) Guilan Cohort Study using immunological and molecular methods. Results The blood samples were obtained from 10,520 enrolled participants. Complete biochemical and hematological tests, as well as urine analysis, were assessed. The presence of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV antibodies for all participant and HBeAg and anti-HBe antibodies for HB-positive patients were evaluated. Moreover, HB genomic DNA and HC genomic RNA were extracted from serum samples of HB-positive patients. The real-time PCR assay was employed to quantify the gene copies of hepatitis B and C viruses. HC genotyping was also performed. The prevalence of HB and HC was 0.24% (95% CI 0.16–0.35) and 0.11% (95% CI 0.06–0.19), respectively. Rural participants were significantly more HB-positive than the urban people (P = 0.045), while males were significantly more HC-positive than the females (P = 0.013). The prevalence of HB and HC in this area were lower than those of other geographical locations of Iran, which may be due to different lifestyles or other unknown reasons.

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Hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Central-West Tunisia: a population-based cross-sectional study

Cited by 10 publications

References 38 publications

Distribution of HCV Genotypes Among People Who Inject Drugs in Tunisia: New Evidence for Scaling Up Prevention and Treatment Toward National Elimination Goal

Distribution of HCV Genotypes Among People Who Inject Drugs in Tunisia: New Evidence for Scaling Up Prevention and Treatment Toward National Elimination Goal

Intrafamilial Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus among Household Members of Hepatitis C Virus Patients

Epidemiologic profile of viral hepatitis B and C in North of Iran: results from PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

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