AIM: To investigate the prevalence and genotypic profile of overt and occult hepatitis-B infection (OBI) among HIV-infected individuals in Cameroon. METHODS: 212 HIV-infected Cameroonians, aged 37.6 [IQR: 32.6-46.6] followed-up at the University Health Centre in Yaoundé, were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc IgG/IgM, HBV-DNA and anti-HCV IgG. HBV positive cases were tested for Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) using anti-HDV IgG and HDV-RNA. Liver function was assessed by alanine and aspartate aminotransaminases. OBI was defined as negative-HBsAg and detectable HBV-DNA. In occult or overt HBV-infected participants, HBV reverse transcriptase (RT)/surface (S) sequences were analyzed for drug resistance, immune-escape mutants, and phylogeny. RESULTS: Overall, 78.3% (166/212) participants had past/ongoing HBV-exposure, with 39.1% (83/212) carrying "HBcAb-positive alone". Prevalence of overt HBV (HBsAg positive) was 11.8% (25/212), OBI prevalence was 6.9% (12/175), and HDV prevalence was 12% (3/25). Phylogeny of HBV-RT/S revealed the co-circulation of genotypes A and E. All HBV-coinfected participants harbored HBV strains with at least one immune-escape mutation. Of note, one HBV variant carried the vaccine-escape mutation G145R that hinders HBsAg neutralization by antibodies. For the ever-first time, a novel 9 aa-deletion (s115-s123), located in the HBsAg "a" determinant, was found in association with OBI. A stop codon in the S region (associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma) was found in six cases. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of overt/occult HBV-infection and circulating atypical strains highlight the importance of HBV surveillance and strategies to detect OBI in highly endemic countries like Cameroon

Salpini, R., Fokam, J., Ceccarelli, L., Santoro, M., Nanfack, A., Sosso, S., et al. (2016). High Burden of HBV-Infection and Atypical HBV Strains among HIV-infected Cameroonians. CURRENT HIV RESEARCH, 14(2), 165-171 [10.2174/1570162X13666150930114742].

High Burden of HBV-Infection and Atypical HBV Strains among HIV-infected Cameroonians

Salpini, R;Santoro, M;SARMATI, LOREDANA;ANDREONI, MASSIMO;COLIZZI, VITTORIO;PERNO, CARLO FEDERICO;
2016-01-01

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and genotypic profile of overt and occult hepatitis-B infection (OBI) among HIV-infected individuals in Cameroon. METHODS: 212 HIV-infected Cameroonians, aged 37.6 [IQR: 32.6-46.6] followed-up at the University Health Centre in Yaoundé, were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc IgG/IgM, HBV-DNA and anti-HCV IgG. HBV positive cases were tested for Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) using anti-HDV IgG and HDV-RNA. Liver function was assessed by alanine and aspartate aminotransaminases. OBI was defined as negative-HBsAg and detectable HBV-DNA. In occult or overt HBV-infected participants, HBV reverse transcriptase (RT)/surface (S) sequences were analyzed for drug resistance, immune-escape mutants, and phylogeny. RESULTS: Overall, 78.3% (166/212) participants had past/ongoing HBV-exposure, with 39.1% (83/212) carrying "HBcAb-positive alone". Prevalence of overt HBV (HBsAg positive) was 11.8% (25/212), OBI prevalence was 6.9% (12/175), and HDV prevalence was 12% (3/25). Phylogeny of HBV-RT/S revealed the co-circulation of genotypes A and E. All HBV-coinfected participants harbored HBV strains with at least one immune-escape mutation. Of note, one HBV variant carried the vaccine-escape mutation G145R that hinders HBsAg neutralization by antibodies. For the ever-first time, a novel 9 aa-deletion (s115-s123), located in the HBsAg "a" determinant, was found in association with OBI. A stop codon in the S region (associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma) was found in six cases. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of overt/occult HBV-infection and circulating atypical strains highlight the importance of HBV surveillance and strategies to detect OBI in highly endemic countries like Cameroon
2016
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
English
Hepatitis B virus, occult Hepatitis B, drug resistance, genotyping, immune escape, HDV co-infection, HIV-infected Cameroonians
Salpini, R., Fokam, J., Ceccarelli, L., Santoro, M., Nanfack, A., Sosso, S., et al. (2016). High Burden of HBV-Infection and Atypical HBV Strains among HIV-infected Cameroonians. CURRENT HIV RESEARCH, 14(2), 165-171 [10.2174/1570162X13666150930114742].
Salpini, R; Fokam, J; Ceccarelli, L; Santoro, M; Nanfack, A; Sosso, S; Kowo, M; Cento, V; Torimiro, J; Sarmati, L; Andreoni, M; Colizzi, V; Perno, Cf; Njoya, O
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/133684
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