Prevalence of hepatitis B virus genotypes among patients with liver disease in Eritrea

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 11323
• Main Authors: Hamida, Mohammed Elfatih, Raja, Saud Mohammed, Petros, Yodahi, Wahab, Munir, Seyoum, Yemane, Elkhidir, Isam Mohammed, Tekle, Freweini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 31.05.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326; 631/337; 692/308; 692/4020; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Genotypes; Genotyping; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Humanities and Social Sciences; Liver; Liver diseases; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Eritrea
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90836-w

Eritrea is an East African multiethnic country with an intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B. Our aim was to establish the most prevalent genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among patients with liver disease. A total of 293 Eritrean patients with liver disease who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive were enrolled. All sera were tested for liver transaminases, HBV DNA viral load, and hepatitis B seromarkers including HBsAg, anti-HBcAb (total), HBeAg, and anti-HBeAb. Those reactive for HBsAg and anti-HBc (total) were further tested for HBV genotyping. The median (interquartile range) of HBV DNA viral load and ALT levels were 3.47 (1.66) log IU/mL and 28 (15.3) IU/L, respectively. Using type-specific primer-based genotyping method, 122/293 (41.6%) could be genotyped. Irrespective of mode of occurrence, HBV genotype D (21.3%) was the predominant circulating genotype, followed by genotypes C (17.2%), E (15.6%), C/D (13.1%), and C/E (10.7%). Genotypes C/D/E (7.4%), A/D (4.9%), D/E (4.1%), A (2.5%), and B, A/E, B/E, and A/D/C (0.8%) were also present. HBV in Eritrea is comprised of a mixture of HBV genotypes. This is the first study of HBV genotyping among patients with liver disease in Eritrea.