Prevalence of HepatitisB Virus, Genotypes,andMutants in HBsAg-Positive Patientsin Meerut, India

Background: Genetic changeability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) signifiesa challengefor the sensitivity of immunologic and molecular diagnostics.Therefore, knowing the spreadof HBV genotypes(GENs)andmutation hasconsiderable impacts on treatment strategies, vaccination program, diagnosis,and prevention. The present study aimed to detect HBVGENs andmutants in HBsAg-positive patients. Methods:The study conducted on 4927 patients in Meerut, India, between March 2013 and April 2017. The blood specimenswere analyzedfor HBsAg using an ELISA kit,then the bloodsamples fromHBsAg-positive patients were subjected toHBeAg assayandDNA isolation. Amplification of the HBV DNA of pre-S gene and pre-coreor basal core promoter region were performed by RT-PCRand sequenced toanalyzeboth GENand mutation. Results: According to the results, 245 cases were positive for HBsAg,and 55 were HBeAg-positive. With regard to HBV DNA levels,16 sampleswere found positive inPCRassay with7(43.8%) less than2000IU/mL, 4(25%) between >2000and 20,000IU/mL,and 5(3.25%) >20,000IU/mL. No mutations were detected in GENsB and A. The prevalence of HBV GENsB and A were 68.8% (n=11)and 31.25%(n=6),respectively. Conclusion:GEN-B was more prevalent in comparisonto GEN-A. The geneticdiversity of HBV and distribution of its GENsand mutationimprovethe current knowledge of epidemiological, clinical and virological patterns of hepatitis B in this region,which help physicians to prescribe proper antiviral/interferon therapy according to current genotyping pattern.