Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and its role in disease progression and patients’ response to antiviral treatment, is not well studied in Pakistan. This comprehensive study was aimed to determine the distribution of HBV genotypes in Pakistan and their possible association with phases of HBV infection.MethodsA total of 840 HBsAg positive samples was collected and tested for HBV DNA quantity. Samples below 100 IU/ml were excluded from the study. A total of 715 samples representing all the six parts of the country were genotyped by type specific primer PCR method. Clinical data of only 384 patients was compared as the remaining 332 were either receiving antiviral treatment or their infection phase was not confirmed.ResultsGenotype D was found in 509 samples (71.2 %), genotype A in 55 samples (7.7 %) and mixed infection with genotypes A and D in 124 samples (17.3 %). Genotypes B, C and E were identified in less than 1 % of the total samples. Genotype A, D and their mixture (A + D) were compared for severity of HBV infection. Significant differences were not found in distribution of HBV genotypes among different disease stages.ConclusionHBV genotype D was the predominant infection in all study areas of Pakistan followed by mixed genotypes infection (A + D) whereas genotype A has 10 times lower prevalence than genotype D. Genotypes B, C, E and F altogether make only 1.5 % of the prevalence. Genotype do not appears to show the severity of liver disease.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and its role in disease progression and patients’ response to antiviral treatment, is not well studied in Pakistan
Patients Eight hundred and forty (840) samples from Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive patients were collected during October 2010 to March 2013 from different locations of six regions of Pakistan which include Punjab and Federal Capital Territory of Islamabad (n = 359); Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa along with Federally Administered Tribal Areas (n = 115); Azad Jammu and Kashmir (n = 81); Gilgit-Baltistan (n = 111); Sind province including Karachi city (n = 107); and Baluchistan (n = 67)
The samples having more than 100 International Unit Per Milli Liter (IU/ml) of viral load were subjected to HBV genotyping (Table 1)
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and its role in disease progression and patients’ response to antiviral treatment, is not well studied in Pakistan. This comprehensive study was aimed to determine the distribution of HBV genotypes in Pakistan and their possible association with phases of HBV infection. Eight HBV genotypes have been established on the basis of 8 % or more nucleotide divergence in the genome.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
