Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B and C are the most common blood-borne liver infections worldwide. According to the recent estimates, 270-300 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and more than 2 billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Transmission of these viruses is carried out by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids containing blood. Methods: Five-hundred and ninety (290 males and 300 females, 5-65 years) internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Swat area of northern Pakistan were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies using immune-chromatography kits. The subjects, positive for virus-related antibody, were further confirmed for viral RNA (for HCV) and DNA (for HBV) in the blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The virus of PCR-confirmed HCV-individuals was further genotyped and the prevalence of HCV infection was determined with respect to age, sex, history of exposure to blood or surgical operation and different types of liver diseases. Results: The HCV infection was found to be the predominant liver infection in the population which was 91% of the positive cases, as against 9% of HBV. Among the HCV-positive subjects (68% females, 32% males) 56% were asymptomatic. No co-incidence of HBV and HCV was found in any subject. Genotype 3a was the dominant strain of HCV followed by 2a > 3b > 1b > 1a, 2b. Conclusion: The viral hepatitis among the apparently healthy population of a relatively natural and pollution free environment refers to an alarming condition about liver infections, particularly of HCV, in Pakistan.