Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a viral infection affecting 71 million people globally. The highest prevalence was estimated in parasitic infections, such as Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola sp., and Toxoplasma gondii, which can also contribute to liver disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of co-parasitic infections with HCV in Egyptian populations and the resulting biochemical changes in liver and kidney biomarkers. Three hundred and thirty-seven blood samples were screened molecularly for HCV and immunologically for parasitic infections using PCR and ELISA assays, respectively. The liver functions were monitored by measuring the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate alanine aminotransferase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T Bil), and alkaline phosphatase (ALK). The kidney functions were evaluated by estimation of the creatinine, uric acid, urea, sodium (Na), and potassium (K) levels. The patients were categorized according to gender and age < 21, 21 - 50, and > 50 years. Results indicated that 120 out of 287 HCV-infected cases (41.8%) have Schistosoma infection, of which 57, 31, 24, and 8 cases were mono-infected and co-infected with Fasciola, Toxoplasma, and Fasciola/Toxoplasma, respectively. Ninety-nine out of 287 HCV patients (34.5%) have F. hepatica infection, of which 51 and 9 cases were mono-infected and Toxoplasma co-infected, respectively. 87 out of 287 HCV samples (30.3%) have T. gondii infection, of which 46 cases were mono-infected. Besides, the percentage of males in the patient groups having monoparasitic infection was between 78.2% (Toxoplasma) and 84.3% (S. mansoni or F. hepatica), on the other hand, the highest incidences of single infections among males (Fasciola and Toxoplasma) were over the age of 50 years, at 43.1% and 39.1%, respectively. In male patients mono-infected with S. mansoni (42.1%), the prevalence was in age group of 21-50 years. It was found that liver enzyme levels (GPT, GOT, Alk, and GGT) besides, kidney parameters (creatinine and urea) were more affected by the type (mono or mixed) or species of parasitic infections in HCV patients. Additionally, most of the serological parameters were significantly elevated with viral/parasitic infections, especially, in patients with high viral loads. |