Viruses (Oct 2024)

Hepatitis Delta Virus Clade 8 Is the Predominant Clade Circulating in Botswana amongst People Living with HIV

  • Kabo Baruti,
  • Wonderful T. Choga,
  • Patience C. Motshosi,
  • Bonolo B. Phinius,
  • Basetsana Phakedi,
  • Lynnette N. Bhebhe,
  • Gorata G. A. Mpebe,
  • Chanana D. Tsayang,
  • Tsholofelo Ratsoma,
  • Tendani Gaolathe,
  • Mosepele Mosepele,
  • Joseph Makhema,
  • Roger Shapiro,
  • Shahin Lockman,
  • Sikhulile Moyo,
  • Mosimanegape Jongman,
  • Motswedi Anderson,
  • Simani Gaseitsiwe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101568
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 10
p. 1568

Abstract

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Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infections more often result in severe hepatitis compared to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections alone. Despite a high HDV prevalence (7.1%), information regarding circulating HDV clades is very limited in Botswana. We extracted total nucleic acid from confirmed HDV-positive samples and quantified their viral load. We then sequenced the large hepatitis delta antigen (L-HDAg) using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Genotyping was performed using the HDV Database, and HDV mutation profiling was performed on AliView. All participants with HBV genotypic information belonged to sub-genotype A1, and 80% (4/5) of them had a higher HDV viral load and a lower HBV viral load. We sequenced 75% (9/12) of the HDV-positive samples, which belonged to HDV clade 8. A total of 54 mutations were discovered, with the most prevalent being Q148R (16%), D149P (16%) and G151D (16%). Known mutations such as S117A, K131R, R139K and G151D were detected, while the other mutations were novel. Our results reveal that HDV clade 8 is the predominant clade in Botswana. The significance of all mutations remains unclear. Future studies with a larger sample size to detect other HDV clades that might be circulating in Botswana and functionally characterize the detected mutations are warranted.

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