Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 5 Variability in Treatment-Naïve Patients in South Africa

Tshegofatso K Maunye; Maemu P Gededzha; Jason T Blackard; Johnny N Rakgole; Selokela G Selabe

doi:10.1159/000528178

Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 5 Variability in Treatment-Naïve Patients in South Africa

Intervirology. 2023;66(1):77-87. doi: 10.1159/000528178. Epub 2023 May 9.

Authors

Tshegofatso K Maunye^{1

2}, Maemu P Gededzha³, Jason T Blackard^{4

5}, Johnny N Rakgole¹, Selokela G Selabe^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
² National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa.
³ Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
⁴ HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa, jason.blackard@uc.edu.
⁵ Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, jason.blackard@uc.edu.

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 5 was originally identified in South Africa, where it represents 35-60% of all HCV infections. There are limited data on resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in South Africa. Thus, we investigated variability within the NS3/NS4A, NS5A, and NS5B genes of treatment-naïve individuals with HCV genotype 5 infection at the Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) in Pretoria, South Africa.

Methods: Nested PCR was performed to amplify the NS3/4A, NS5A, and NS5B genes. RAVs were evaluated using the Geno2pheno tool.

Results: In the NS3/4A gene, F56S and T122A were detected in one sample each. The D168E mutation was detected in 7 samples. Within the NS5A gene, the T62M mutation was detected in 2 individuals. In the NS5B gene, 8 of 12 individuals (67%) had the A421V mutation, while all 12 individuals (100%) had the S486A mutation.

Discussion: RAVs were detected frequently among treatment-naïve individuals with HCV genotype 5 infection in South Africa. Thus, resistance testing may be prudent when initiating treatment of patients with genotype 5 infection. Additional population-based studies are needed to understand the prevalence of these RAVs during HCV genotype 5 infection.

Keywords: Africa; Drug resistance; Genotype; Hepatitis C virus.

MeSH terms

Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics
Genotype
Hepacivirus / genetics
Hepatitis C* / epidemiology
Hepatitis C, Chronic* / drug therapy
Humans
South Africa / epidemiology
Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics

Substances

Antiviral Agents
Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council, the National Research Foundation, the National Health Laboratory Service Research Trust, and the Stella and Paul Loewestein Charitable and Educational Trust in South Africa.