title: Decreasing Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Thailand in the Past Decade: Evidence from the 2014 National Survey.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects ≥ 180 million individuals worldwide especially those living in developing countries. Recent advances in direct-acting therapeutics promise effective treatments for chronic HCV carriers, but only if the affected individuals are identified. Good treatment coverage therefore requires accurate epidemiological data on HCV infection. In 2014, we determined the current prevalence of HCV in Thailand to assess whether over the past decade the significant number of chronic carriers had changed. In total, 5964 serum samples from Thai residents between 6 months and 71 years of age were obtained from 7 provinces representing all 4 geographical regions of Thailand and screened for the anti-HCV antibody. Positive samples were further analyzed using RT-PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis to identify the prevailing HCV genotypes. We found that 56 (0.94%) samples tested positive for anti-HCV antibody (mean age = 36.6±17.6 years), while HCV RNA of the core and NS5B subgenomic regions was detected in 23 (41%) and 19 (34%) of the samples, respectively. The seropositive rates appeared to increase with age and peaked in individuals 41-50 years old. These results suggested that approximately 759,000 individuals are currently anti-HCV-positive and that 357,000 individuals have viremic HCV infection. These numbers represent a significant decline in the prevalence of HCV infection. Interestingly, the frequency of genotype 6 variants increased from 8.9% to 34.8%, while the prevalence of genotype 1b declined from 27% to 13%. These most recent comprehensive estimates of HCV burden in Thailand are valuable towards evidence-based treatment coverage for specific population groups, appropriate allocation of resources, and improvement in the national public health policy.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rujipat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wasitthankasem
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nawarat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Posuwan
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Preeyaporn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vichaiwattana
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Apiradee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theamboonlers
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sirapa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klinfueng
authors.affiliation: Chumpare Hospital, Chum Phae, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Viboonsak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vuthitanachot
authors.affiliation: Chumpare Hospital, Chum Phae, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Napha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thanetkongtong
authors.affiliation: Uttaradit Hospital, Mueang, Uttaradit, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saelao
authors.affiliation: Uttaradit Hospital, Mueang, Uttaradit, Thailand.
authors.forename: Monthana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foonoi
authors.affiliation: Uttaradit Hospital, Mueang, Uttaradit, Thailand.
authors.forename: Apinya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fakthongyoo
authors.affiliation: Lablae Hospital, Lablae, Uttaradit, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jamorn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makaroon
authors.affiliation: Naresuan University Hospital, Mueang, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Klaita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srisingh
authors.affiliation: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand.
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asawarachun
authors.affiliation: King Narai Hospital, Khao Sam Yot, Lop Buri, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owatanapanich
authors.affiliation: Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital, Mueang, Narathiwat, Thailand.
authors.forename: Norra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wutthiratkowit
authors.affiliation: Trang Hospital, Mueang, Trang, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kraisorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tohtubtiang
authors.affiliation: Bureau of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pornsak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yoocharoen
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sompong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vongpunsawad
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral