Molecular Epidemiology, Drug-Resistant Variants, and Therapeutic Implications of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis D Virus Prevalence in Nigeria: A National Study
Oludare ‘Sunbo Adewuyi,
Muhammad Shakir Balogun,
Hirono Otomaru,
Alash’le Abimiku,
Anthony Agbakizu Ahumibe,
Elsie Ilori,
Que Anh Luong,
Nwando Mba,
James Christopher Avong,
John Olaide,
Oyeladun Okunromade,
Adama Ahmad,
Afolabi Akinpelu,
Chinwe Lucia Ochu,
Babatunde Olajumoke,
Haruka Abe,
Chikwe Ihekweazu,
Adetifa Ifedayo,
Michiko Toizumi,
Hiroyuki Moriuchi,
Katsunori Yanagihara,
Jide Idris,
Lay-Myint Yoshida
Affiliations
Oludare ‘Sunbo Adewuyi
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Muhammad Shakir Balogun
Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja 900231, Nigeria
Hirono Otomaru
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Alash’le Abimiku
Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Anthony Agbakizu Ahumibe
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Elsie Ilori
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Que Anh Luong
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Nwando Mba
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
James Christopher Avong
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
John Olaide
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Oyeladun Okunromade
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Adama Ahmad
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Afolabi Akinpelu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Chinwe Lucia Ochu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Babatunde Olajumoke
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Haruka Abe
Vietnam Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Chikwe Ihekweazu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Adetifa Ifedayo
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Michiko Toizumi
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Hiroyuki Moriuchi
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Katsunori Yanagihara
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Jide Idris
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja 240102, Nigeria
Lay-Myint Yoshida
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
Information on circulating HBV (sub-)genotype, variants, and hepatitis D virus (HDV) coinfection, which vary by geographical area, is crucial for the efficient control and management of HBV. We investigated the genomic characteristics of HBV (with a prevalence of 8.1%) and the prevalence of HDV in Nigeria. We utilised 777 HBV-positive samples and epidemiological data from the two-stage sampled population-based, nationally representative Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey conducted in 2018. We assessed 732 HBV DNA-extracted samples with detectable viral loads (VLs) for (sub-)genotypes and variants by whole-genome pre-amplification, nested PCR of the s-and pol-gene, and BigDye Terminator sequencing. We conducted HDV serology. In total, 19 out of the 36 + 1 states in Nigeria had a high prevalence of HBV (≥8%), with the highest prevalence (10.4%) in the north-central geopolitical zone. Up to 33.2% (95% CI 30.0–36.6) of the participants had detectable VLs of ≥300 copies/mL. The predominant circulating HBV genotype was E with 98.4% (95% CI 97.1–99.1), followed by A with 1.6% (95% CI 0.9–2.9). Drug-resistant associated variants and immune escape variants were detected in 9.3% and 0.4%, respectively. The seroprevalence of HDV was 7.34% (95% CI 5.5–9.2). Nigeria has subtype E as the major genotype with many variants.
