Genotype and Serotype Identification of Hepatitis B Virus in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Telbivudine

摘要

Hepatitis B is an inflammatory liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). In Indonesia, the prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) is 9.4%, categorizing the country as endemic hepatitis B. HBV has been classified into at least ten genotypes and four serotypes. Each genotype has different clinical significance and virologic characteristics, which can be an independent risk factor of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in addition to the male sex, older age, and positive Hepatitis B Envelope Antigen status. Telbivudine antiviral therapy suppressed the virus, but in case of resistance mutations, the mutant might grow continuously due to drugs inefficiency. This study aimed to detect the genotypes and serotypes of HBV in hepatitis B chronic patients after 12 weeks of telbivudine treatment. The subject of this study involved 26 patients with chronic hepatitis B, receiving 12 weeks treatment of telbivudine in the gastrohepatology division of the RSUP Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital. The HBV genotype was identified by analyzing the HBV P gene, while the serotype was detected by deducing the nucleotide of the HBV S gene that overlapped with the P gene. Nine samples (75%) were genotype b, and three samples (25%) were genotype c. for serotype, six (50.0%), three (25.0%), and three (25.0%) samples were ayw, adw, and adr, respectively. genotype b is generally associated with less progressive liver disease than genotype c. genotypes b and c are prevalent in highly endemic areas in which the perinatal or vertical transmission play an important role in spreading the virus.