SEROPREVALENCE OF HBsAg AND ANTI-HCV IN GENERAL HEALTHY POPULATION OF SWAT DISTRICT WITH FREQUENCY OF DIFFERENT HCV GENOTYPES

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to find out the seroprevatence of HBsAg and anti HCV in apparently healthy population of district Swat. The other objective was to find out the different types of genotype prevalent in this part of the country. Methodology: This is a descriptive, observational study which is community based and was conducted by the Hepatology section of Medical Department, Saidu Teaching Hospital, Saidu Sharif from May 2007 to August 2008. Screening camps were held in all the four sectors to which the district was arbitrarily divided. Sera were checked by 3 generation Elisa technique for HBsAg and anti HCV antibody. Positive cases for anti HCV were recalled in batches and the blood samples taken for HCV RNA testing by PCR and Genotyping. Results: Data was available on a total of 4680 healthy men and women. There were 2870 male and 1810 female participants. We found 3871 (82.7%) subjects Negative. One hundred sixty four (3.5%) were positive for HBsAg and 645(13.8%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Only 15 volunteers (0.3%) were infected with both HBV and HCV. Two hundred twenty cases, who were positive for HCV RNA BY PCR testing were checked for genotyping. One hundred nine (49.5%) cases had genotype 3a, 74(33.7%) cases were having genotype 3b, 19 cases (8.7%) had mixed, 10 cases (4.5%) had lb and eight cases(3.6%) were untypeble. Conclusion: In district Swat of NWFP, prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigenmia is 3.5% and anti Hepatitis C antibody is 13.8% with a combined prevalence of 17.3%. Genotype three is the commonest genotype (83%) prevalent in this area and six months combination antiviral therapy can be undertaken without checking for genotype in routine.