Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis A and B causes morbidity and mortality among patients. This study determined the proportion of hepatitis A, B viruses (HAV, HBV) and genetic diversity of HBV among jaundice patients at the Coast General Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 222 patients; recruited and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HAV IgM. Viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from positive samples; partial hepatitis B virus-pol (HBV-pol) gene amplified, directly sequenced and generated sequences phylogenetically analysed using MEGA X software. Demographic characteristics were compared in relation to HBV infection using Chi-square.ResultsForty-seven (21.2%) out of the 222 patients tested positive for HBV while no HAV was detected. Among those infected, n = 8 (3.6%) were females and n = 39 (17.6%) males. Forty-five samples amplified and sequenced successfully. However, two samples failed to amplify. Phylogenetic analysis revealed HBV A1 genotype [n = 35 (74.5%)] was most predominant. A3, B and C2 genotypes each occurred [n = 1 (0.02%)]. This study revealed co-existence of HBV A3, B and C2 genotypes that have not yet been detected in this region.ConclusionHBV A1 genotype remains the predominant genotypes in this region. The detected HBV prevalence indicates possible high transmission with possibility of increasing trends of HBV genotypes based on revelation of existence of new genotypes in this region.
Highlights
Viral hepatitis is a great public health problem world over with hepatitis B being the most predominant
hepatitis B virus (HBV) being endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (6), its prevalence could range from 2% to 20% (7)
A hospital based cross-sectional study was done and a total of 222 samples collected among febrile and jaundiced patients seeking medical care at the casualty, paediatric clinic, hepatic clinic of out and in-patient department seeking medical services at Coast General Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya
Summary
Viral hepatitis is a great public health problem world over with hepatitis B being the most predominant. In hepatitis B virus (HBV), the infection is mostly through contact with infected blood and body fluids, making it one of the most highly infectious agents (4, 5). HBV being endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (6), its prevalence could range from 2% to 20% (7). Endemicity of these infections could be categorised as either low (< 2.0%), low intermediate (2.0%– 4.0%), high intermediate (5.0%–7.0%) or high (≥ 8.0%) endemicity (8). Hepatitis A and B causes morbidity and mortality among patients. This study determined the proportion of hepatitis A, B viruses (HAV, HBV) and genetic diversity of HBV among jaundice patients at the Coast General Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya
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