Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and its genotypes among a cohort of drug users in Kenya

East Afr Med J. 2008 Jul;85(7):318-25. doi: 10.4314/eamj.v85i7.9649.

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and that of its main genotypes varies between the worlds geographic regions. The risk factors for infection with HCV include blood transfusion, tattoing and injecting drug use.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of HCV and determine its main genotypes among a cohort of drug users in Kenya.

Design: A laboratory based study.

Setting: Hepatitis research laboratory in the Centre for Virus Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.

Subjects: Three hundred and fourteen male and 19 female intravenous and non-intravenous drug users aged between 15-55 years.

Results: Seventy four (22.2%) out of 333 samples tested positive for anti-HCV. Sixty nine out of the 74 serum samples were assayed for HCV RNA and 38 (55.5%) were positive. The RNA positive samples were further subjected to sequencing and 19 (73%) of the samples were classified as genotype 1a, while seven (27%) samples were classified as genotype 4. Genotypes 2, 3, 5 and 6 were not identified in this study.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate a high HCV infection prevalence among this cohort of drug users (22.2%) as compared to that of the general population, which is estimated to be 0.2-0.9%. The study also confirms the presence of at least two major genotypes among Kenyan drug users (genotypes 1 and 4).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genotype*
  • Health Surveys
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / transmission
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous / adverse effects*
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult