Evolutionary insights of hepatitis B virus genotypes among seropositive-drug-experienced HIV patients in Nigerian tertiary health Centre

Background: Co-infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HIV-positive patients poses a considerable public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The natural history, response to treatment, and development of liver disease are all significantly influenced by the distribution of HBV genotypes. On the other hand, little is known about the distribution of HBV genotypes among HIV-positive individuals in North Central Nigeria.
Aim: This study focused on identifying and characterizing the distribution of circulating HBV genotypes among HIV-positive, antiretroviral-experienced patients attending Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, providing evolutionary insights into HBV diversity in this population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved HIV-positive adults on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Plasma samples were subjected to HBV DNA extraction and genotype-specific PCR amplification using standard protocols. Genotype identification was based on amplification product size comparison and confirmed with genotype-specific primers and genotype frequencies were calculated. Demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed for associations with genotype distribution.
Results: Out of the 289 HBsAg-positive HIV patients enrolled, 37 (12.8%) were successfully genotyped. Genotype E was the most prevalent with 0.91 frequency, followed by Genotype D and B with 0.83 frequency and genotype B with 0.74 frequency. No significant association was observed between genotype and gender, age group, or ART duration (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: In line with regional patterns, this study shows that HBV Genotype E is more common among HIV-positive people in North Central Nigeria. These results highlight the significance of using genotype screening in HBV management, especially in co-infected populations, to monitor disease progression and optimize treatment.