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Anderson M, Phinius BB, Phakedi BK, Mudanga M, Bhebhe LN, Tlhabano GN, Motshosi P, Ratsoma T, Baruti K, Mpebe G, Choga WT, Marlink R, Glebe D, Blackard JT, Moyo S, Kramvis A, Gaseitsiwe S. Persistence and risk factors of occult hepatitis B virus infections among antiretroviral therapy-naïve people living with HIV in Botswana. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1342862. [PMID: 38784816 PMCID: PMC11112038 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1342862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim This study aimed to determine the kinetics of occult hepatitis B virus infections (OBI) among people with HIV (PWH). Methods The study used archived plasma samples from longitudinal HIV natural history studies. We identified new OBI cases and assessed risk factors for OBI using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results At baseline, 8 of 382 [(2.1%) (95% CI: 1.06-4.1)] samples tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg+). Of the 374 HBsAg-negative samples, 76 had sufficient sample volume for HBV DNA screening. OBI positivity (OBI+) at baseline was reported in 11 of 76 [14.7 95% CI (8.3-24.1)] HBsAg-negative (HBsAg-) participants. Baseline HBsAg-negative samples with sufficient follow-up samples (n = 90) were used for analysis of newly identified OBI cases. Participants contributed 129.74 person-years to the study and were followed for a median of 1.02 years (IQR: 1.00-2.00). Cumulatively, there were 34 newly identified OBI cases from the 90 participants, at the rate of 26.2/100 person-years (95% CI: 18.7-36.7). Newly identified OBI cases were more common among men than women (61.1% vs. 31.9%) and among participants with CD4+ T-cell counts ≤450 cells/mL (p-value = 0.02). Most of the newly identified OBI cases [55.9% (19/34)] were possible reactivations as they were previously HBV core antibody positive. Conclusion There was a high rate of newly identified OBI among young PWH in Botswana, especially in men and in participants with lower CD4+ T-cell counts. OBI screening in PWH should be considered because of the risk of transmission, possible reactivation, and risk factors for the development of chronic liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motswedi Anderson
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Bonolo B. Phinius
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Mbatshi Mudanga
- Botswana – University of Maryland School of Medicine Health Initiative, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Lynnette N. Bhebhe
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Girlie N. Tlhabano
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Patience Motshosi
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Tsholofelo Ratsoma
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Kabo Baruti
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Gorata Mpebe
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Wonderful T. Choga
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Richard Marlink
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Dieter Glebe
- Institute of Medical Virology, National Reference Centre for Hepatitis B Viruses and Hepatitis D Viruses, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jason T. Blackard
- Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Research Laboratory, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Maepa MB, Ely A, Kramvis A, Bloom K, Naidoo K, Simani OE, Maponga TG, Arbuthnot P. Hepatitis B Virus Research in South Africa. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091939. [PMID: 36146747 PMCID: PMC9503375 DOI: 10.3390/v14091939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being vaccine-preventable, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains the seventh leading cause of mortality in the world. In South Africa (SA), over 1.9 million people are chronically infected with HBV, and 70% of all Black chronic carriers are infected with HBV subgenotype A1. The virus remains a significant burden on public health in SA despite the introduction of an infant immunization program implemented in 1995 and the availability of effective treatment for chronic HBV infection. In addition, the high prevalence of HIV infection amplifies HBV replication, predisposes patients to chronicity, and complicates management of the infection. HBV research has made significant progress leading to better understanding of HBV epidemiology and management challenges in the SA context. This has led to recent revision of the national HBV infection management guidelines. Research on developing new vaccines and therapies is underway and progress has been made with designing potentially curative gene therapies against HBV. This review summarizes research carried out in SA on HBV molecular biology, epidemiology, treatment, and vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohube B. Maepa
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Abdullah Ely
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Diversity Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Kristie Bloom
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Kubendran Naidoo
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
| | - Omphile E. Simani
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0204, South Africa
| | - Tongai G. Maponga
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7602, South Africa
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
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