Risk factors and molecular epidemiology of HBV and HCV in internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and transmission risks of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections among internally displaced persons. Methods: This study was conducted in district Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, from August 2014 to April 2015, and comprised internally displaced people from North Waziristan Agency residing in camps or settled in towns. Potential subjects were initially screened through immunochromatographic test devices. Samples detected positive were confirmed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Confirmation of the presence of viral nucleic acids and genotyping was done via real-time polymerase chain reaction. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 1,000 participants, 570(57%) were males and 430(43%) females. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus among the participants was 45(4.5%) and hepatitis C virus was 52(5.2%). Viral nucleic acids were present in 41(4.1%) participants in case of hepatitis B virus and 39(3.9%) in case of hepatitis C virus. No co-infection with both of these viruses was found. Dominant hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus genotypes were genotype-D 19(46.3%) and 3a with 20(51.2%), respectively. Conclusions: High prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections was found among internally displaced people.