Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Microbiology 2008-3289 8 6 2017 03 03 389 394 EN Hashem Radmehr Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center; Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Manoochehr Makvandi Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran Alireza Samarbafzadeh Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran Ali Teimoori Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Niloofar Neisi Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mojtaba Rasti Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Sara Abasifar Virology Department, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Hasan Soltani Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Samaneh Abbasi Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Hadis Kiani Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Hamide Mehravaran Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Azarakhsh Azaran Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Toran Shahani Virology Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 2016 07 05 2017 01 26 Background and Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem worldwide. Replication and persistence of HCV genome have been described in the liver tissue as well as B cells lymphocyte. Several investigations have reported that long-term persistence of HCV in B cells may result in Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This study was aimed to determine frequency of HCV RNA in histological tissues obtained from patients suffered from Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Materials and Methods: 52 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks including 23 (44.3%) Hodgkin and 29 (55.7%) Non-Hodgkin samples were collected and five micrometer sections were prepared. RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Two consecutive Nested RT-PCR assays were carried out for detection of HCV 5’ UTR and core gene. RT-PCR products were sequenced and aligned to construct HCV phylogenic tree to evaluate the homology of sequences in comparison to the reference sequences retrieved from Genbank. Results: Overall, 6 Non-Hodgkin (20.6%) and 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (13.04%) samples showed positive PCR results for both 5’ UTR and HCV core RNA via nested PCR (P<0.469). Sequencing results revealed that all detected HCV RNA samples belonged to the genotype 3a. Conclusion: Despite low prevalence of HCV infection in Iran, high frequency of HCV RNA genotypes 3a (17.3%) has been found in patients with Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. To improve treatment regimens, screening of HCV RNA in patients suffered from Hodgkin or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is recommended which can be done through highly sensitive molecular means before and after immunosuppression status.   https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/1063 https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/download/1063/681