Nationwide overview of the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Brazil: a 1000-sample multicentre study

Abstract

The influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in the natural history of the disease and its response to antiviral treatment have been addressed in many studies. In Brazil, studies on HBV genotype circulation have been restricted to specific population groups and states. Here, we have conducted a nationwide multicentre study with an unprecedented sample size representing all Brazilian regions in an effort to better understand the viral variants of HBV circulating among chronic carriers. Seven HBV genotypes were found circulating in Brazil. Overall, HBV/A was the most prevalent, identified in 589 (58.7 %) samples, followed by HBV/D (23.4 %) and HBV/F (11.3 %). Genotypes E, G, C and B were found in a minor proportion. The distribution of the genotypes differed markedly from the north to the south of the country. While HBV/A was the most prevalent in the North (71.6 %) and Northeast (65.0 %) regions, HBV/D was found in 78.9 % of the specimens analysed in the South region. HBV/F was the second most prevalent genotype in the Northeast region (23.5 %). It was detected in low proportions (7 to 10 %) in the North, Central-West and Southeast regions, and in only one sample in the South region. HBV/E was detected in all regions except in the South, while monoinfection with HBV/G was found countrywide, with the exception of Central-West states. Our sampling covered 24 of the 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District and is the first report of genotype distribution in seven states. This nationwide study provides the most complete overview of HBV genotype distribution in Brazil to date and reflects the origin and plurality of the Brazilian population.

International Forum on Occult hepatitis B infection and transfusion safety

“…Studies of prevalence of OBI in Brazil depend on the endemicity of the region. It was found as 3·3% among blood donors reactive for anti‐HBc in southern Brazil, 2·7% in north‐eastern and 2·7% in the northern region . It is also important to remember that OBI is more common than infections during the window period, as well as other relevant factors than can cause an impact in the clinical outcome of OBI transmission such as a strict and careful clinical screening of blood donors, excluding high‐risk groups, the recruitment of repeated donors, the recipient's immune response, the number of HBV‐DNA copies in the blood products transfused and the blood product type, once the transmission through plasma is more common than platelets and red blood cells .…”

Evaluation of Occult Hepatitis B Infection in Individuals with Chronic Hepatitis C Before Treatment with Oral Direct-Acting Antivirals

“…No patients developed ALT and AST flareups and all were anti-HB-positive, with viral loads ranging from 207.14 to 1547 IU/mL (1.16 × 10 3 to 8.51 × 10 4 copies/mL) ( Table 1). Patients with the highest viral loads were positive for S-region amplification (GenBank accession number MK360178) via nested-polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and HBV in these cases was classified as genotype A1 (Figure 1), the most prevalent in Brazil (14).…”

Developing Countries Can Innovate and Produce Vaccines: The Case of Butantan in Brazil

“…Butantan developed a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine by genetic engineering, based on the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs) and expressed in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha with a good yield [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. The vaccine was tested in adults, adolescents, and newborns with the cooperation of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, the Medical School in Campinas and Oswaldo Cruz Institute [19][20][21][22].…”

“…Recently, a study was conducted in Brazil revealing that hepatitis B is not the prevalent strain causing hepatitis, with variation in different regions. Hepatitis A represents 58.7% followed by hepatitis D and F (23.4%), while B, C, and G are minor [23][24] . In a world overview, B/C relation represents 60% [24].…”

“…Hepatitis A represents 58.7% followed by hepatitis D and F (23.4%), while B, C, and G are minor [23][24] . In a world overview, B/C relation represents 60% [24]. It is estimated that there are 5.000 cases of hepatitis C. The Ministry of Health is trying to cure with a patented drug that inhibits replication of the virus, sofosbuvir combined with daclatasvir, at a cost of about US$ 9000 per patient.…”