Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Prevalent Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes Circulating among HIV Co-Infected Patients in an Urban City, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Ayodele MBO*, Ogugbue CJ, Frank-Peterside N and Tatfeng YM

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) has been classified into genotypes A-J which characteristically has different geographic origins, disease progression and responses to antiviral treatment. Co-infection caused by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV is common because they both share similar routes of transmission. In this study, we report the prevalent HBV genotypes circulating among HBV-HIV co-infected patients in Port Harcourt, south-south Nigeria. DNA was extracted from stored serum samples obtained from 25 HBV-HIV co-infected patients selected out of 535 HIV I/II sero-positive patients confirmed to be HBsAg positive from University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Obio Cottage Hospital both in Port Harcourt City. HBV genotyping was carried out using a nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) approach followed by Big-dye termination sequencing. The mega blast search in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, revealed a close relatedness to HBV genotype B and E. Of the 25 samples, 15 (60.0%) were successfully genotyped. HBV genotype E was found in 10 (66.7%) of samples whereas, B was found in 5 (33.3%) participants. HBV genotypes B and E were found among HIV coinfected patients though genotype E was more predominant in this study. Early detection and identification of HBV genotype particularly in HIV co-infected patients could reduce the rate of liver degeneration and enhanced treatment.