Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Soumaya Benjelloun1, Bouchra Kitab, Abdellah Essaid El Feydi, Rajaa Afi fi , Omar Derdabi, Younes Cherradi, Mustapha Benazzouz, Khadija Rebbani, Brahim Ikram, Hanane Salih Alj and Sayeh Ezzikouri
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA
Background: Morocco is an intermediate area for chronic HBV infection. However, little is known about HBV genetic variability. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of HBV genotypes/subgenotypes and variants in the HBV surface (S), core promoter (CP) and precore (PC) regions and to defi ne their eventual association with severity of liver disease. Methods: A cohort of 200 patients at diff erent stages of chronic HBV infection was included. HBV genotypes/subgenotypes, HBsAg subtypes and mutations in the HBV S, CP and PC regions were determined by direct sequencing of amplifi ed regions and phylogenetic analysis. Results: HBV subgenotype D7 and A2 were the most two prevalent (70.8% and 10%). In the Major Hydrophilic Region (MHR) of HBV S region, a signifi cant prevalence of mutations was found (15%) and the marked substitution was P120T/S, with a rate of 3.7%. Th e occurrence of MHR variants was signifi cantly associated with advancing age of patients (> 40 years) (p=0.003). Five high frequency mutations were found in the CP region, including G1757A (47.9%), C1766D (47.9%), A1762T/G1764A (33.8%) and T1753V (28.1%), while the most common mutations in the PC region were G1896A (59.1%) and G1899A (46.4%). A1762T/G1764A and T1753V were signifi cantly prevalent in patients at advanced liver disease including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to patients at low HBV infection activity (p= 0.00003, p= 0.016, respectively). Patients with multi-mutations in CP region (≥4) were more likely to have liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (p=0.000008). Conclusion: Predominance of subgenotype D7 and a signifi cant prevalence of variants in the HBV S and CP/PC regions. Mutations A1762T/G1764A and T1753V in the CP region were associated with severity of HBV-related liver disease.
Dr. Soumaya Benjelloun is a head of Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco. His research interests include the genetic variability of hepatitis viruses and its impact on disease progression; Host and viral factors in hepatitis B and C; Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms involved in liver carcinogenesis and Co-infection with hepatitis viruses in patients living with HIV/AIDS in Morocco. This study was conducted in collaboration with Pr. Abdellah Essaid El Feydi (Head of Service M�decine C, CHU Ibn Sina, Rabat, Morocco) and his collaborator Pr. Rajaa Afifi .