MOLECULAR PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) GENOTYPES IN PESHAWAR

Background and Aim: Globally Hepatitis B is life-threatening problem including in Pakistan with an estimated incidence rate of 3% in the general population. According to recent findings Pakistan has an enormous burden of HBV infection, but very little attention has been drawn in terms of the molecular epidemiology of HBV. Till now HBV has been categorized into 10 genotypes and different genotypes exhibit different pathogenicity and response towards the treatment, so this research study was planned to evaluate the current status of different HBV genotypes prevailing in Peshawar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Method: A collection of 550 blood samples was carried out from chronically infected HBV- positive patients and tested by ICT that was further confirmed for HBV DNA with qualitative PCR and followed by type-specific PCR to identify the prevalence of specific HBV genotypes. Sequencing was performed on the respective genotype and a phylogenetic study was done using the MEGA 6.0 tool. Results: All samples were diagnosed HBV positive. Genotype D was recorded as the most widely distributed (90%) while 10% were detected positive for genotype C and no other genotype was found in our study in district Peshawar. Phylogenetic analysis of obtained sequences shows close homology with already reported strains of HBV. Conclusion: The only genotype predominant was genotype D in the District Peshawar region which is the most commonly found genotype in Pakistan and the neighboring countries.