Molecular Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Isolates in Libya: Predominant Circulation of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype D

AIM: To determine prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypesand HBV variants among Libyan patients.METHODS: HBV DNA levels were determined using RoboGene HBVQuantification kit (AJ Roboscreen GmbH, Germany) in a total of 121HBV isolates. HBV isolates with higher DNA levels were amplifiedby PCR, but only 60 isolates tested for genotypes by line probeassay (INNO-LiPA HBV Genotyping; INNOGENETICS NV, Ghent,Belgium). Precore and core promoter variants in 39 of the 60 HBVisolates genotyped were also performed by line probe assay (INNOLiPAHBV PreCore; INNOGENETICS NV, Ghent, Belgium).RESULTS: Overall, HBV genotype D was found in 54 (90%) outof the 60 isolates studied. HBV genotypes A, and E were found in 1(1.7%) isolate for each. In the remaining 4 isolates the results weresuggestive of mixed or recombinants of HBV genotypes D and E. Inthe precore region, all of the 39 isolates investigated were genotypeD and showed mixed wild type (G1896) and precore mutant(G1896A). The combination of wild type (A1762) and (G1764) ofthe core promoter was found in 30/39 (77%) of the isolates. Thevariant profiles (A1762T) and (G1764A) or (A1762) and (A1764)were detected in 6 (15%) and 3 (8%) of the isolates, respectively.CONCLUSION: HBV genotype D was the most prevalent HBVgenotype in Libya. High circulation of mixed wild type and precoremutant are common in HBV genotype D in Libya.