Hepatitis G virus and its prevalence and genotypes in patients with hepatitis B and C in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis G virus (HGV, or GB virus C) in patients with hepatitis B and C in Ahvaz, southeastern Iran. Materials and methods: A total of 100 patients were selected; 50 were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 50 for hepatitis B virus (HBV). HGV status was examined among the HCV- and HBV-positive patients. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to detect anti-E2 antibody. Nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for RNA detection from serum samples of chronic hepatitis patients. Sequencing was done to determine genotypes Results: Using the ELISA method, co-infection of HGV with HCV and HBV was determined at 6% and 8%, respectively. RT-PCR showed that co-infection of HGV with HCV and HBV was 22% and 10%, respectively. Based on nucleotide sequencing of PCR products, the predominant genotype of HGV among the samples was 2a. Conclusion: Our study showed that the co-infection rate of HGV in patients with hepatitis B and C was somewhat high and was higher in HCV- than in HBV-infected patients. As our findings and other reports from Iran and neighboring countries indicate, genotype 2 of HGV may be the most common genotype of HGV in Middle Eastern countries.