Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The high prevalence and spread rates of the disease require serious actions to stop these rates. Determination of HCV genotypes and subgenotypes adds significant knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, and provides and added value in the decision-making process of what strategy to follow and what therapy response to expert. The molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of HCV variant circulating in Togo still need further analysis. Materials and methods: The HCV molecular epidemiology in Togo was studies using direct sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis of a partial NS5B region of the HCV from 56 patients. HCV genotype and subtype were successfully determined in 41 out of 53. Results: The highest prevalent genotype was genotype 2, which was found in 30 patients (73,2%) followed by genotype 1 that was isolated from 7 patients (17,1%), genotype 4 was isolated from 3 patients (7,3%) and 1 patient (2,4%) was infected by genotype 6. Conclusion: The molecular epidemiology study revealed high prevalence of genotype 2 among Togolese patients followed by genotype 1.

Hepatitis C virus; Genotype; Togo