Different evolutionary dynamics of hepatitis B virus genotypes A and D, and hepatitis D virus genotypes 1 and 2 in an endemic area of Yakutia, Russia

Abstract

Background The geographic distribution of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis D virus (HDV) genotypes is uneven. We reconstructed the temporal evolution of HBV and HDV in Yakutia, one of the regions of Russia most affected by HBV and HDV, in an attempt to understand the possible mechanisms that led to unusual for Russia pattern of viral genotypes and to identify current distribution trends. Methods HBV and HDV genotypes were determined in sera collected in 2018–2019 in Yakutia from randomly selected 140 patients with HBV monoinfection and 59 patients with HBV/HDV. Total 86 HBV and 88 HDV genomic sequences isolated in Yakutia between 1997 and 2019 were subjected to phylodynamic and philogeographic Bayesian analysis using BEAST v1.10.4 software package. Bayesian SkyGrid reconstruction and Birth–Death Skyline analysis were applied to estimate HBV and HDV population dynamics. Results Currently, HBV-A and HDV-D genotypes are prevalent in Yakutia, in both monoinfected and HDV-coinfected patients. Bayesian analysis has shown that the high prevalence of HBV-A in Yakutia, which is not typical for Russia, initially emerged after the genotype was introduced from Eastern Europe in the fifteenth century (around 600 (95% HPD: 50–715) years ago). The acute hepatitis B epidemics in the 1990s in Yakutia were largely associated with this particular genotype, as indicated by temporal changes in HBV-A population dynamics. HBV-D had a longer history in Yakutia and demonstrated stable population dynamics, indicating ongoing viral circulation despite vaccination. No correlation between HBV and HDV genotypes was observed for coinfected patients in Yakutia (r = − 0.016069332). HDV-2b circulates in Russia in Yakutia only and resulted from a single wave of introduction from Central Asia 135 years ago (95% HPD: 60–350 years), while HDV-1 strains resulted from multiple introductions from Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and different parts of Russia starting 180 years ago (95% HPD: 150–210 years) and continuing to the present day. The population dynamics of HDV-1 and HDV-2 show no signs of decline despite 20 years of HBV vaccination. The Birth–Death Skyline analysis showed an increase in the viral population in recent years for both HDV genotypes, indicating ongoing HDV epidemics. Conclusions Taken together, these data call for strict control of HBV vaccination quality and coverage, and implementation of HBV and HDV screening programs in Yakutia.

Post-Vaccination and Post-Infection Immunity to the Hepatitis B Virus and Circulation of Immune-Escape Variants in the Russian Federation 20 Years after the Start of Mass Vaccination

“…Moreover, the prevalence of ad and ay HBV strains has remained stable over the 20 years of mass vaccination, indicating the absence of any serotype-specific selection. The decline in HBV-A genotype prevalence observed in Yakutia was recently confirmed by an analysis of population dynamics [ 16 ] but was presumably associated with epidemic patterns in high-risk groups and not with preferential prevention with HBV-A/ad vaccine. As such, the most obvious reason for continued HBV circulation in the vaccinated population is an insufficient level of immunity, probably due to vaccination gaps and insufficient vaccination timeliness.…”

“…Two different methods, Bayesian SkyGrid reconstruction (the values of effective number of infections) and Birth–Death Skyline analysis (reproduction number, Re), were used. For all datasets, the main parameters for both models were taken from calculations based on the tree that was built previously [ 16 ]. The Bayesian SkyGrid reconstruction was used with the Tree Prior parameter defined as equal to 50 and the final time point of 100 years before the most recent sampling performed using BEAST v1.10.4 software.…”

“…A Birth–Death Skyline analysis was performed with previously selected parameters [ 16 ], using the BEAST2 software. In all cases, the length of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) was set to 100-million generations, ESS > 200.…”

Haemovigilance and Trends of Transfusion Transmissible Viral Infections among Asymptomatic Population at Akatsi South Municipal in Volta Region of Ghana from 2014 to 2019

“…The periodicals depicted a higher mean rate of 4.4% HBV from 2014 to 2015, and a lower mean of 2.9 HBV from 2016 to 2019 in this study. The inter variations in rate of HBV infection could be due to the different testing methods employed in the diagnosis of the viral infections (37) and/ or a reflection of natural ecological variations between the study sites (38). The highest rate of 4.7% HBV among younger age donors (≤19), and rate of 4.9% HBV among older donors (≥50) was also reported in Northern Ghana (24).…”

Genetic characterization of hepatitis B virus genotypes among patients with chronic infection in Sulaimaniyah city, Iraq

“…One of the HBV samples examined in this investigation (HBV/Sul-2/2021) contained two deletion mutations in the Pre-S1-S region that were relatively long deletions. HBV/Sul-2/2021 accession number MZ077052 was closely identical to Iran HBV isolates KC339792 ( Karlsen et al, 2022 ), raising the issue of whether this strain is created locally in Sulaimaniyah City owing to local mutation or it is brought from outside the city and even country. Another isolate, HBV/Sul-1/2021 accession number MZ077051 was found to be closely related to the GU186046 isolate from 2013 ( Glebe et al, 2021 ).…”