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) genotypes and HBV variants among Libyan patients. METHODS: HBV DNA levels were determined using RoboGene® HBV Quantification kit (AJ Roboscreen GmbH, Germany) in a total of 121 HBV isolates. HBV isolates with higher DNA levels were amplified by PCR, but only 60 isolates tested for genotypes by line probe assay (INNO-LiPA HBV Genotyping; INNOGENETICS NV, Ghent, Belgium). Precore and core promoter variants in 39 of the 60 HBV isolates genotyped were also performed by line probe assay (INNOLiPA HBV PreCore; INNOGENETICS NV, Ghent, Belgium). RESULTS: Overall, HBV genotype D was found in 54 (90%) out of 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 were suggestive of mixed or recombinants of HBV genotypes D and E. In the precore region, all of the 39 isolates investigated were genotype D and showed mixed wild type (G1896) and precore mutant (G1896A). The combination of wild type (A1762) and (G1764) of the core promoter was found in 30/39 (77%) of the isolates. The variant 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 HBV genotype in Libya. High circulation of mixed wild type and precore mutant are common in HBV genotype D in Libya.