Serological and molecular epidemiological outcomes after two decades of universal infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

Background: Chronic HBV within the Canadian Arctic is considered endemic (>2%

Tracing hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype B5 (formerly B6) evolutionary history in the circumpolar Arctic through phylogeographic modelling

“…Twenty-two serum samples from various locations in Nunavut were collected from HBV/B5-infected individuals having self-identified as Inuit. All specimens were described previously in studies for which informed patient consent was obtained for HBV molecular analysis and study approval was granted from institutional ethics review boards (Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada research ethics board protocol number REB-2006-0048 and REB-2012-0062; University of Manitoba research ethics board approval number HS15821; Huynh et al, 2014 ; Larke et al, 1987 ; Minuk et al, 2013 ; Osiowy, Larke & Giles, 2011 ). HBV DNA was extracted from 200 µl sera by SDS-proteinase K lysis and phenol chloroform extraction methods ( Osiowy, 2002 ) and resuspended in 30 µl sterile, nuclease-free water.…”

“…Endemic infection (>2%) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been historically observed throughout Inuit and Alaska Native populations of the western circumpolar Arctic ( McMahon, 2004 ; Minuk & Uhanova, 2003 ; Tulisov et al, 2007 ), although ongoing vaccination programs, starting in the mid-1980’s to mid-1990’s, have or are expected to reduce prevalence to non-endemic levels ( Huynh et al, 2014 ; McMahon et al, 2011 ). Studies have shown several HBV genotypes circulating within Inuit or Alaska Native people of the circumpolar Arctic; however, subgenotype B5 (HBV/B5; formerly B6 ( Kramvis, 2014 )) is unique to this population and has not been found elsewhere ( Osiowy, Simons & Rempel, 2013 ).…”

Epidemiologic and clinical features of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in 8 Canadian provinces: a descriptive study by the Canadian HBV Network

“…11 Universal childhood vaccination in Nunavut has led to a significant decline in the prevalence of chronic infection in Inuit populations. 8 This †Data missing for 5487 patients overall: 112 from British Columbia, 1378 from Alberta, 74 from Saskatchewan, 32 from Manitoba, 3875 from Ontario, 14 from Quebec and 2 from Nova Scotia. ‡p < 0.05 for difference between the value for a given province, and the national total minus the value for that province.…”

Peer Review #1 of "Tracing hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype B5 (formerly B6) evolutionary history in the circumpolar Arctic through phylogeographic modelling (v0.2)"

“…Endemic infection (>2%) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been historically observed throughout Inuit and Alaska Native populations of the western circumpolar Arctic (McMahon, 2004;Minuk & Uhanova, 2003;Tulisov et al, 2007), although ongoing vaccination programs, starting in the mid-1980's to mid-1990's, have or are expected to reduce prevalence to non-endemic levels (Huynh et al, 2014;McMahon et al, 2011). Studies have shown several HBV genotypes circulating within Inuit or Alaska Native people of the circumpolar Arctic; however, subgenotype B5 (HBV/B5; formerly B6 (Kramvis, 2014)) is unique to this population and has not been found elsewhere (Osiowy, Simons & Rempel, 2013).…”