Acute and chronic HBV infection in central Argentina: High frequency of sub-genotype F1b, low detection of clinically relevant mutations and first evidence of HDV

CASTRO, GONZALO M.; SOSA, MARÍA J.; SICILIA, PAOLA E.; RIBERI, MARÍA I.; MORENO, CLAUDIA; CATTANEO, RODOLFO; DEBES, JOSÉ D.; BARBÁS, MARÍA G.; CUDOLÁ, ANALÍA E.; PISANO, MARÍA B.; RÉ, VIVIANA E.

Frontiers in Medicine

Frontiers Media S.A.

Año: 2023 vol. 9

ntroduction: Genomic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identifies phylogenetic variants, which may lead to distinct biological and clinical behaviors. The satellite hepatitis D virus (HDV) may also influence clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to investigate HBV genetic variants, including clinically relevant mutations, and HDV infection in acute and chronic hepatitis B patients in central Argentina. Methods: A total of 217 adult HBV infected patients [acute (AHB): n = 79; chronic (CHB): n = 138] were studied; 67 were HBV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical records. Serological markers were determined. Molecular detection of HBV and HDV was carried out by RT-Nested PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Overall, genotype (gt) F [sub-genotype (sgt) F1b] was the most frequently found. In AHB patients, the gts/sgts found were: F1b (74.7%) > A2 (13.9%) > F4