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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) belongs to the genus Orthohepadnavirus, of Hepadnaviridae family, smallest human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus with 3200 bp in a partially double-stranded circular DNA. Globally, about 2 billion people are infected with over 65 million of the chronically infected residing in Africa. Ten HBV genotypes (A-J) have been reported across the globe. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) African Regions including Kenya have high HBV prevalence rates yet the data on prevalence rates of the various HBV genotypes and their associated biomarkers is very scanty. A cross-sectional descriptive study with purposive sampling was conducted in which a census of patients with chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) with history >6-month were reviewed for eligibility. Demographics data was abstracted from patient files and blood samples drawn for genotyping, viral load using Rotor gene Q Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment, Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HbeAg) and Hepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc) using Cobas e411 machine. Out of a total of 83 patients, 43 (52%) were eligible; males 29 (67.4%), females 14 (32.6%) with mean ages of 35.1±10.8 and 34.3±9.3 respectively. Genotypes A were 34(79.1%), B were 5(11.6%), C-D were 0 while E-J were 9(20.9%). All cases of genotype B were associated with co-infection of genotype A. Majority were HBeAg negative with HBV DNA >10 IU/ml (81.4% and 86.0% respectively) with distribution among all the genotypes. Across genotypes, viral load mean percentage comparisons were: A vs. A/B = 2600 (p = 0.09), A vs. E-J = 5260 (p = 0.09) and A/B vs. E-J = 200 (p = 0.28). The most prevalent genotype was A followed by mixed co-infection of genotype A/B. Genotype A was associated with HBV DNA viral loads > 10IU/ml and high rates of HBeAg negativity. Genotypes E-J were also detected though not characterized.
Gikunyu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.