Characterization of occult hepatitis B virus infection among HIV positive patients in Cameroon
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Gachara, George
Magoro, Tshifhiwa
Mavhandu, Lufuno
Lum, Emmaculate
Kimbi, Helen K.
Ndip, Roland N.
Bessong, Pascal O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Purpose: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) among HIV positive patients varies widely in different geographic regions.
We undertook a study to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among HIV infected individuals
visiting a health facility in South West Cameroon and characterized occult HBV strains based on sequence analyses.
Methods: Plasma samples (n = 337), which previously tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), were
screened for antibodies against hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) and surface (anti-HBs) antigens followed by DNA extraction.
A 366 bp region covering the overlapping surface/polymerase gene of HBV was then amplified in a nested PCR
and the amplicons sequenced using Sanger sequencing. The resulting sequences were then analyzed for genotypes
and for escape and drug resistance mutations.
Results: Twenty samples were HBV DNA positive and were classified as OBI giving a prevalence of 5.9%. Out of these,
9 (45%) were anti-HBs positive, while 10 (52.6%) were anti-HBc positive. Additionally, 2 had dual anti-HBs and anti-HBc
reactivity, while 6 had no detectable HBV antibodies. Out of the ten samples that were successfully sequenced, nine
were classified as genotype E and one as genotype A. Three sequences possessed mutations associated with lamivudine
resistance. We detected a number of mutations within the major hydrophilic region of the surface gene where
most immune escape mutations occur.
Conclusions: Findings from this study show the presence of hepatitis B in patients without any of the HBV serological
markers. Further prospective studies are required to determine the risk factors and markers of OBI.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Occult hepatitis B infection, HIV, Cameroon
Description
DOI 10.1186/s12981-017-0136-0
Keywords
Hepatitis B virus, Occult hepatitis B infection, HIV, Cameroon
Citation
AIDS Research and Therapy (2017),14:11. DOI 10.1186/s12981-017-0136-0