Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus genotype D in females in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an etiological agent of acute and chronic liver disease existing throughout the world. The high genetic variability of HBV genome is reflected by eight genotypes (A to H), and each genotype has characteristic geographical distribution, which is important epidemiologically. Previous studies from the province of Sindh, Pakistan, have reported that genotypes A and D as prevalent HBV genotypes. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of HBV genotypes in physically healthy females at two universities in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Methodology: Blood was collected from a total of 4,000 healthy female volunteer students and serum samples obtained were screened for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and anti-HBs antibodies by immunochromatography and ELISA. Genotyping was conducted for 6 HBV genotypes (A through F). Both genotyping and sequencing data of HBV positive females are described. Results: Out of 4,000 volunteers, 180 (4.5%) tested positive for HBsAg and 20 (0.5%) were positive for HBs antibodies. All 180 serum samples were genotyped by PCR and sequencing analyses was conducted for 21 samples. Out of 180 HBsAg positive samples, 150 showed a single HBV D genotype infection; 29 showed co-infection of genotypes B and D; and 1 exhibited co-infection of genotypes C and D. Twenty-one representative samples were selected randomly from genotypes B, D, and C for sequencing and each isolate clustered with respective reference genotype sequence, thus validating the genotyping strategy. Conclusion: Genotype D appears to be the dominant genotype prevalent in Karachi's otherwise healthy female population.

Circulation of HBV Strains Among Hepatitis B Chronic Patients in District Mardan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…The epidemiological data regarding different HBV strains in various Asian regions approved the occurrence of all seven genotypes mingling in Asia, explicitly the most widespread type of genotype D. In our study we have successfully genotyped all our samples and confirmed the presence of only two strains of HBV, genotype A and D with D genotype being most predominant and prevalent genotype in Mardan. Similar patterns and distribution of genotypes were observed in previously reported findings describing genotype D of HBV as the most predominant genotype in Pakistan with a slight proportion of HBV genotype A (NoorAli et al, 2008;Alam et al, 2007;Baig et al, 2009;Hanif et al, 2013;Mahmood et al, 2016). Mixed infection of HBV genotypes A and D has also been claimed by some studies…”

“…3. Hepatitis B infection is highly endemic in Pakistan and around 9 million people are infected with HBV while 3% of the population is supposed to be chronic carriers (Farzana et al, 2020;Hakim et al, 2008;NoorAli et al, 2008). In a project work supported by Awan and his colleagues where they defined and explained that the C variant of HBV is one of the utmost currently emerging and evolving genotypes in Pakistani residents with a 27% of incidence rate, which is surely not a positive update regarding HBV as it is typically widespread in cirrhotic patients and reported to be connected with more crucial and dangerous liver infections (Awan et al, 2010).…”

Molecular and genetic characterization of hepatitis B virus among multitransfused thalassaemia patients in Islamabad, Pakistan

“…A study conducted in three big cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad, reported that genotype D was the most prevalent (58.5%) genotype followed by mixed genotype A and D (31.5%) while genotype A was only reported in 10% samples. [ 38 ] Some studies from Karachi showed the predominance of genotype D.[ 39 40 41 ] Reports from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province also showed a higher incidence of genotype D.[ 42 ] Two studies from Rawalpindi also reported a high incidence of genotype D, i.e., 96%[ 43 ] and 90.2%. [ 44 ] However, in the province of Punjab, the genotype C was found most commonly.…”

Genetic diversity in enhancer II region of HBV genotype D and its association with advanced liver diseases

“…Pakistan is highly endemic for HBV with approximately nine million people infected and the infection rate is on a steady rise [ 21 , 22 ]. Even though in Pakistan data related to HBV and its genotype prevalence are available but studies that cover information of HBV mutations especially in the Enh-II region and its clinical association with the development of HCC are scarce.…”