The prevalence of hepatitis b and c virus confirmation by using PCR-based molecular diagnosis in district swat khyber pakhtunkhwa Pakistan | [International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Iftikhar Ahmad: Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology (CBM), University of Swat (UOS), Swat, Pakistan

2. Javaid Ali: Swat Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy (SINOR), Marghuzar Road, Saidu Sharif, Swat, KPK, Pakistan.

3. Amreek Lal: Saidu Medical College (SMC), Saidu Sharif, Swat, Pakistan.

4. Muhammad Riaz Fazal: Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology (CBM), University of Swat (UOS), Swat, Pakistan

5. Israr Khan: Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology (CBM), University of Swat (UOS), Swat, Pakistan

6. Murad Ali: Swat Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy (SINOR), Marghuzar Road, Saidu Sharif, Swat, KPK, Pakistan.

7. Sana Ullah: Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) 1122, Balochistan.

8. Arshad Iqbal: Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology (CBM), University of Swat (UOS), Swat, Pakistan

Abstract:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major contributors to chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore pose crucial health challenges in the world. The purpose of this retrospective study was to elucidate the prevalence of HBV and HCV-infected cases indistrict Swat, 2nd populated district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. This study was planned and conducted at Swat Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology & Radiotherapy (SINOR) Saidu Sharif, Swat, KPK, Pakistan and Amreek Clinical Laboratory (ACL), Saidu Sharif Swat, Pakistan respectively. A total of 10488 samples with immunochromatographic (ICT) confirmed HBV and HCV infections from other labs, with male to female ratio of 1.33:1 were selected at Amreek Clinical Laboratory (ACL), Swat KPK Pakistan from July2019 to December2022. The selected samples for HBV and HCV were tested by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The prevalence of HBV and HCV was analyzed concerning gender and time. The ICT-based confirmed HBV and HCV cases ratios among all cases were 26.78% (males: 16.75%, females: 10.30%) and 73.22% (males: 40.33%, females: 32.89%) respectively in district Swat, KPK Pakistan. 7.31% of samples were positive for HBV and 21.89% for HCV with an overall 29.20% positive samples, after analyzing all samples with qPCR. The HBV and HCV patients were observed with increased temporal trends in whole duration except a decreased trend in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most HBV and HCV patients were male may be due to comparative greater freedom and social mobility. The load of HBV & HCV in the district is alarming; therefore, such study will play an important role in infection prevention and future planning to control such viruses in district Swat, KPK Pakistan.

Page(s): 263-267

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 22, Issue: 2, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Pakistan , HCV , Hepatitis Virus , HBV , Swat , KPK

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