Study of HCV Genotypes and viral Blood Load at Thalassaemic Children in Mid-Euphrates Area, Iraq

Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is a cosmopolitan infection that has been considered a serious health problem to whom at risk like thalassaemic patients. Patients and Methods: Serum samples from 563 of thalassaemic children from four Iraqi governorates were collected and subjected to investigation for the presence of HCV infection and genotyping through by use of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), positive samples were further examined by RT-qPCR for estimation of viral blood load. Results: percentage of infection at thalassaemic children was 17.4% (98 /563), genotype 4 was the dominant type that appeared in 8.16% of infected cases followed by genotypes 1b, 2b, 3a, and 6a which found in percentages of 8.16%, 2%, 1% and 4.1%, respectively; The total mean of viral load at the study groups was 5840976.9 (5.8 x 106) IU /ml of blood. Conclusions: The present study emphasized the public health importance of HCV infection in thalassemic children at the study area , genotype 4 is dominant type. Recommendations: Further studies at different areas, peoples and age groups are required to investigate the molecular epidemiology of HCV in our community.