DETECTION AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONGST BLOOD DONORS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
DETECTION AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONGST BLOOD DONORS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
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Date
2016-10
Authors
EMMANUEL, ISA BIGWAN
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Abstract
Hepatitis C virus has been known to be a menace globally causing chronic liver diseases. The advent of different immunoassays for the detection of specific markers for the diagnosis of the infection since the discovery of the virus is a positive development, but their varied degrees of sensitivity and specificity is of public health concern. The study aimed at determining the seroprevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus among blood donors and pregnant women in the study area. Blood samples were collected from 1511 participants (710 blood donors and 801 pregnant women). A third generation ELISA kit was used to analyse all the samples, while two immunochromatographic test kits were used to compare 500 samples analysed using the ELISA Kit. Polymerase Chain Reaction was carried out on all the seropositive HCV samples and sequences/phylogenetic analysis were carried out on all the PCR positive amplicon products. Of the 1511 samples analysed, 5.2% were seropositive for HCV. Of the blood donors examined, 7.0 % were seropositive for HCV. Of the pregnant women examined, 3.6% were seropositive for HCV. Nasarawa State had the highest seroprevalence of 7.0% among blood donors, while Benue State had the least with 5.2% (p= 0.023). Of the pregnant women examined, Plateau State had the highest with 4.4%, while Benue State had the least with 2.9% (p= 0.644). Males had 7.1%, while the females had 6.7%. Male blood donors of the age group 41- 50 years had the highest with 11.9%, age groups 51- ≥ 61 had the least with 0.0% (p= 0.583). The female blood donors of the age group 41-50 years had 10.9%, while the age groups ≥ 51 years had 0.0% (p= 0.326). Pregnant women of the age group ≤ 20 had the highest with 6.3% while the age group 21- 30 had the least with 3.2% (p= 0.528). Among blood donors, the separated had 33.3%, while the divorced and widowed had 0.0% (p= 0.123). Among pregnant women, the married had the highest with 8.9%, while the divorced and the separated had 0.0% (p= 0.930). Blood donors with tertiary educational status had 8.4% while those with primary had 3.2% (p= 0.392). The pregnant
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women with non-formal education had the highest with 4.9%, while those with primary had the least with 2.4% (p= 0.789). The unemployed blood donors had 8.5% while farmers had the least with 0.0% (p= 0.301). Pregnant women that were farmers had the highest with 6.8%, while health workers had the least with 0.0% (p= 0.580). Polygamous blood donors had 12.5%, while the monogamous had 4.9% (p = 0.344). Polygamous pregnant women had 3.4%, while monogamous had 3.0% (p = 0.887). Blood donors engaged in sexual activities with multiple partners without condoms had 7.8%, while those who used condoms had 4.1% (p = 0.4054). Pregnant women engaged in multiple sex activities with condoms had 4.1%, while those who did not use condoms had 0.7% (p = 0.3191). Non-alcoholic blood donors had 7.5% while the alcoholics had 5.4% (p = 0.382). Non-alcoholic pregnant women had 3.8% while the alcoholics had 1.4% (p = 0.296). Blood donors, non- cigarette smokers had 7.3% while the smokers had 3.6% (p = 0.290). Pregnant women, non- cigarette smokers had 3.6% while the smokers had 0.0% (p = 0.634). Of all the risk factors examined among blood donors, only those examined for the history of surgery and unsafe injections showed significant associations. Those with a history of surgery had 15.6%, while those without a history of surgery had 5.2% (p= 0.016; OR= 3.404). Those with a history of unsafe injections had 50%, while those without history of unsafe injections had 5.9% (p= 0.009; OR= 15.960). Pregnant women, with a history of blood transfusion showed a significant association (p= 0.042; OR= 2.716). Of the 500 samples used for comparative evaluation of the three kits, 15.80% were anti- HCV positive by ELISA, 11.80% tested positive by Wondfo kit, whereas only 9.00% by Global strip kit. This gave Wondfo Kit a sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 99.0%, overall accuracy of 95.2%, while Global Kit had a sensitivity of 57.0%, specificity of 100.0%, and overall accuracy of 93.2%. Of the 79 samples that were anti-HCV positive, 18.98% were positive for HCV RNA. Of the 9 samples that were
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sequenced, the genotypes/ subtypes determined in the study area were: 1a, 1b, 2a/f, and 4a. The predominant HCV genotype in the study area was genotype 1b. The overall seroprevalence of 5.2% is of great public health concern, there is a need for a prompt intervention
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MICROBIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
DETECTION,, GENOTYPING,, HEPATITIS C VIRUS,, PREGNANT WOMEN,, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA,, BLOOD DONORS,