Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection and its genotypic distribution in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) show global inconsistency. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypic distribution patterns of HCV, along with viral load, in people living with HIV. This cross-sectional study was conducted at SRL Diagnostics Nepal, Pvt. Ltd. in 203 HIV-seropositive patients attending the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal from October 2021 to May 2022. The viral load and HCV genotypes were estimated from RNA extracted from the blood sample (plasma) of PLHIV by using a standard Q-PCR protocol. HCV infection was considered as a core variable, whereas covariates used for this study were duration of HIV infection, age, sex, and ART regimen. Out of total 203 PLHIV, the estimated prevalence of HCV co-infection was 115 (56.6%). Male gender was a unique characteristic associated with a high prevalence of HCV co-infection compared to females. The HCV viral load among PLHIV ranged from 34 to 3,000,000 IU/mL. Among HCV co-infected PLHIV, 56 (48.69%) had a low level of HCV viral load. Interestingly, only 3 (2.6%) patients had an HCV viral load higher than 3,000,000 IU/mL. Diverse HCV genotypes were found in the population, including genotypes 1, 1a, 3a, 5a, and 6. However, genotype 3 was the most prevalent HCV variant among HCV-co-infected PLHIV, with a distribution of 36 (61.1%) and viral load ranging from 34 to 3000 IU/mL. HCV co-infection is frequent in the Nepalese population of people living with HIV, particularly due to HCV genotypic variant 3. The findings of this study could be useful for the management and clearance of the HCV co-infection in PLHIV, aiming to provide a good quality of life.

HIV patients are prone to various other complications, disorder and coinfections mainly HCV coinfection. HCV coinfection increases up the frequency and severity of liver disease. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of HCV coinfection among HIV patients, HCV viral load and HCV genotypes in Nepal. This cross-sectional study was conducted from Oct 2021 to May 2022 in the HIV seropositive patients attending the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu, Nepal. All the demographic and blood samples were collected from the patients. The RNA was extracted and estimated the viral load and HCV genotypes by standard Q-PCR protocols. A total 203 PLHIV were enrolled in the study out of which 115 (56.6%) had HCV co-infection by Q-PCR. Most commonly HCV infection was higher in male 110 (95.6%) than female 5 (4.4%). HCV viral load < 34 IU/ml was observed as higher number 56 (27.6%) then 31 (15.3%) had among 34-3000 IU/ml, 17 (8.4%) had 3000–30000 IU/ml, 8 (3.9%) had 30000–300000 IU/ml and only 3 (1.5%) had > 3000000 IU/ml HCV viral load. Genotype 3 were most prevalent 36 (61.1%) then genotypes 5a, 6, 1 and 1a as 13 (22.1%), 6 (10.2%, 2 (3.3%) and 2 (3.3%) respectively. Genotype 3a was most prevalent genotypes and the presence of HCV genotype 6 in Nepalese patients may indicate a shift of HCV genotypes.