Genotyping and sero-virological characterisation of hepatitis B virus-infected blood donors in Central Eritrea

Abstract Aim To determine serological markers and genotypes profiles of HBV isolates in Central Eritrea. Materials & methods A total of 191 HBsAg sero-positive samples were randomly selected for the study from 23,232 screened blood donors from 2015 to 2017. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to perform HBV serological markers screening, while genotypes were determined using type-specific primer-based multiplex-nested PCR. Results The median age of infected blood donors was 28.9 ± 10.26 years. Of 191 HBsAg reactive serum samples, 77.5% (148/191) were sero-positive for HBcAb-total, among which 99.3% (147/148) and 0.7% (1/148) were sero-positive for HBsAg and HBsAb, respectively. Interestingly, among 147 HBcAb-total/HBsAg reactive samples, 16 (10.9%) and 131 (77.9%) were sero-positive for HBeAg and HBeAb, respectively. For genotyping, 73 HBV isolates were successfully amplified and genotyped, with 59 (80.8%) had a mono-genotype and 14 (19.2%) had a mixed-genotype infection. Among HBV isolates with mono-genotypes: 39 (53.4%) D; 10 (13.7%) E; 6 (8.2%) A and 4 (5.5%) C. While five mixed-genotypes comprised: 6 (8.2%) C/D; 3 (4.1%) C/D/E; 2 (2.7%) each with genotype A/D and D/E; and 1 (1.4%) genotype B/D. Conclusion HBV genotype D is the predominant genotype, either as a HBV mono- or mixed-genotype infection, among blood donors in Eritrea.