Genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus in Bolu province
Abstract
Viral genotypes play a critical role in the clinical course and treatment planning of chronic liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to investigate the distribution of HCV genotypes and subtypes in patients from Bolu, thereby contributing to the understanding of HCV molecular epidemiology and supporting the development of treatment strategies. The HCV genotyping results of blood samples obtained from HCV RNA-positive patients and submitted to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory between 2017 and 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. HCV genotype determination was performed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction method. A total of 65 patients were included in the study, of whom 55.4% were female and 44.6% were male, with a mean age of 61.1 years (range: 25–96). The most frequently detected HCV genotype was 1b (69.2%), followed by 1a and 3 (13.8%), while 4 was detected in 3.1% of cases; genotype 2 was not observed. A significant association was found between gender and HCV genotype distribution, with genotype 1b being more prevalent in women and genotype 3 being more frequent in men. When evaluated according to age groups, the average age of patients with genotype 1b (67.6±14.6) was found to be higher than that of patients with genotype 3 (42.1±10.9). To our knowledge, this study is the first to report the distribution of HCV genotypes in Bolu province and supports the finding that genotype 1b is the dominant type. These findings may contribute to the development of treatment strategies and provide regional epidemiological data.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Virology
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Mustafa Behçet
*
0000-0002-5676-6983
Türkiye
Ayça Çisem Harre
0009-0001-7708-8974
Türkiye
Fatma Avcıoğlu
0000-0002-6011-7775
Türkiye
Hakan Burak Çelik
0009-0008-9145-7191
Türkiye
Elif Soysal
0009-0007-4752-680X
Türkiye
Yusuf Afşar
0000-0003-3316-3618
Türkiye
Publication Date
August 31, 2026
Submission Date
February 6, 2026
Acceptance Date
May 3, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 5 Number: 2