Multiple genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis B and C viruses in Belarus: similarities with Russia and western European influences

Abstract

The Republic of Belarus reports a seroprevalence of 4.8% for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 1.26% for hepatitis C virus (HCV), but little is known about the molecular characteristics of the circulating viruses. This study analysed 69 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 113 anti-HCV-positive donors attending a national reference hospital in Minsk. Among the HCV patients, 70% were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Phylogenetic analysis of 12 complete genomes and 31 partial HBV sequences, as well as 78 core/E1 HCV sequences, revealed that multiple genotypes and subtypes of both viruses were circulating in Belarus. Of the HBV strains, 11.6% were genotype A2 and 88.6% were genotype D. The genotype D strains segregated into four recently described subtypes, with D2 being the most prevalent (58.1%), followed by D3 (16.3%), D1 (11.6%) and D4 (2.3%), but with inter-subtypic distances lower than the minimal 4% distance proposed to define subtypes. The 78 HCV strains belonged to subtypes 1b (53.8%), 3a (38.5%), 1a (5.1%), 4a (1.3%) and 4d (1.3%). Subtype 1b was less prevalent (45.1% vs. 70.4%) among HCV/HIV co-infected donors, while subtype 3a was more prevalent (29.6% vs. 43.1%). The relative prevalence of HBV and HCV genotypes in Belarus corresponded to the prevalence in Russia, although with a clear European influence that reflected the socio-political context of the country.

Two unusual hepatitis C virus subtypes, 2j and 2q, in Spain: Identification by nested-PCR and sequencing of a NS5B region

“…The dynamics of subtype 3a did not present relevant differences over the study period, probably because commercial techniques correctly identify this subtype (Verbeeck et al, 2008). The three predominant HCV subtypes recognized from 2012 to 2013, 1b, 1a and 3a, are in agreement with those reported from Spain and other countries (Forns et al, 1996;Olinger et al, 2008;Saglik et al, 2014;Nishiya et al, 2014;Magiorkinis et al, 2009;Mousavi et al, 2013).…”

A novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) subgenotype D (D8) strain, resulting from recombination between genotypes D and E, is circulating in Niger along with HBV/E strains

“…To date, eight genotypes (A-H) have been established based on intergroup divergence of .7.5 % in the complete nucleotide sequence (Arauz-Ruiz et al, 2002;Kramvis et al, 2008;Norder et al, 1994;Okamoto et al, 1988;Stuyver et al, 2000). Recently, a ninth genotype isolated in Laos (Olinger et al, 2008a) and Vietnam (Hannoun et al, 2000;Olinger et al, 2008b;Tran et al, 2008) and tentatively termed 'I' was proposed, although it is still subject to debate (Kurbanov, 2008). In addition, a tenth genotype provisionally termed genotype 'J' was isolated from a Japanese patient (Tatematsu et al, 2009).…”

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and S-Escape Mutants: From the Beginning until Now

“…A putative genotype I has been proposed [83,84] but its existence is still controversial. HBV genotypes have been shown to have a distinct geographic distribution and seem to have differences in biological properties that may account for differences in the clinical outcome of the infection or in the antiviral treatment response [29].…”