Hepatitis B virus precore/core region mutations and genotypes among hepatitis B virus chronic carriers in South-Eastern, Nigeria

Authors

  • Chinenye Mbamalu Medical Laboratory Services Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
  • Ifeoma Ekejindu Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State
  • Ifeoma Enweani Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State
  • Stephen Kalu PCR Laboratory unit, HIV Care Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra state
  • David Igwe Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology/Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A
  • Gloria Akaeze PCR Laboratory unit, HIV Care Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra state

Keywords:

Hepatitis B Virus, mutation, precore/core gene

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed at detecting the prevailing Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) genotypes and the presence of clinically relevant mutations in the precore/core gene of the HBV DNA, among patients with chronic infection in South-eastern, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 72 participants with chronic HBV infection were enrolled into the study. Plasma samples from those with detectable HBV DNA were subjected to nested Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification using the precore/core specific primers. This resulted to the successful amplification and sequencing of the HBV precore/core region DNA from 16 participants. Mutation analysis on the precore/core region detected the presence of certain HBV precore/core gene mutations. Genotyping was carried out by phylogenetic analysis.

Results: The precore region mutation at nucleotide position 1896, which is a G to A change resulting to a nonsense mutation, was detected in 6.25% of the participants. Other HBV precore region mutations that were detected include: G1899A, T1846A, G1862C, G1888A, T1821C, C1826T, A1827C, A1850T, C1858T, precore start codon kozak sequence mutations and some novel core region mutations such as G/A1951T and G1957A. Genotyping revealed the existence of HBV genotype/subgenotype A1 (87.5%) and D (12.5%) among the participants. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of specific precore/core mutations among the HBV/HCV dually infected and HBV mono-infected participants.

Conclusion: The data suggests the likelihood of a more severe outcome of hepatitis caused by HBV in South-eastern Nigeria due to the occurrence of a variety of precore/core mutation, which resulted to HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection among the participants.

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Published

2021-03-01

How to Cite

Mbamalu, C., Ekejindu, I., Enweani, I., Kalu, S., Igwe, D., & Akaeze, G. (2021). Hepatitis B virus precore/core region mutations and genotypes among hepatitis B virus chronic carriers in South-Eastern, Nigeria. International Journal of Health Sciences, 15(2), 26–38. Retrieved from https://pub.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/5582

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2021): Mar-Apr

Section

Original Paper

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