Pattern and molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis B virus genotypes circulating in Pakistan

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus in the Kurram Agency, Pakistan: A 5-year observational study in a war-affected region

“…This study also indicated the potential risk factors for HBV infection in the people from war-affected areas [8]. Moreover, genotype C of HBV was found to be the dominant genotype that was prevalent at 38.8% in the Pashtun population [9]. Bangash and co-authors pointed to the unavailability and high cost of therapeutic drugs and HBV vaccines in Parachinar, Kurram Agency, which remained the worst affected area due to the war against terror from 2007 to 2012 [10].…”

Distribution and clinical significance of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Pakistan

“…Most of the available data are from Karachi and Lahore or Punjab and Sind while none of the study has explored the regions of FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, some parts of Khyber Pakhtoonkha province and most of the Baluchistan province. Though three studies carried out by Awan et al [18], Alam et al [30] and Idrees et al [34] investigated the provinces of KP and Baluchistan additionally but the number of samples taken were not satisfactory to conclude the genotype distribution in these provinces (Table 4). None of the studies included the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and FATA.…”

“…None of the studies included the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and FATA. Two of these three [18, 34] studies reported genotype C as predominant while one [30] found genotype D as predominant one. Genotype B which was not reported from Pakistan in any other study has also been reported in all three of these studies from 18 to 25 % of the samples.…”

“…Moreover, the existing state of knowledge regarding the distribution and prevalence of HBV genotypes in Pakistan seems to be sketchy and questionable too. For example, four studies [5, 30–32] are in agreement that genotype D infection is most prevalent in the country while three studies [18, 33, 34] reported that genotype C is the most common ones in Pakistan. Yet in an another study, genotype C and D have been cited as most common HBV genotypes in Pakistan [35].…”

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: a review of viral genomes, viral induced host immune responses, genotypic distributions and worldwide epidemiology

“…According to the most recent study conducted by Awan et al it has been reported that genotype C is most emerging genotype associated with more severe liver diseases (cirrhosis). The approximate prevalence rate of this genotype is 27.7% which represents a major threat to future generations [41] . The (F1-F4).…”