Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) belongs to the genus Orthohepadnavirus, of Hepadnaviridae family,
smallest human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus with 3200 bp in a partially doublestranded circular DNA. Globally, about 2 billion people are infected with over 65 million of
the chronically infected residing in Africa. Ten HBV genotypes (A-J) have been reported
across the globe. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) African Regions including
Kenya have high HBV prevalence rates yet the data on prevalence rates of the various HBV
genotypes and their associated biomarkers is very scanty. A cross-sectional descriptive
study with purposive sampling was conducted in which a census of patients with chronic
Hepatitis B (CHB) with history >6-month were reviewed for eligibility. Demographics data
was abstracted from patient files and blood samples drawn for genotyping, viral load using
Rotor gene Q Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment, Hepatitis B surface Antigen
(HBsAg), Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HbeAg) and Hepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc)
using Cobas e411 machine. Out of a total of 83 patients, 43 (52%) were eligible; males 29
(67.4%), females 14 (32.6%) with mean ages of 35.1±10.8 and 34.3±9.3 respectively.
Genotypes A were 34(79.1%), B were 5(11.6%), C-D were 0 while E-J were 9(20.9%). All
cases of genotype B were associated with co-infection of genotype A. Majority were HBeAg
negative with HBV DNA >10 IU/ml (81.4% and 86.0% respectively) with distribution among
all the genotypes. Across genotypes, viral load mean percentage comparisons were: A vs.
A/B = 2600 (p = 0.09), A vs. E-J = 5260 (p = 0.09) and A/B vs. E-J = 200 (p = 0.28). The
most prevalent genotype was A followed by mixed co-infection of genotype A/B. Genotype
A was associated with HBV DNA viral loads > 10IU/ml and high
