title: Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus from chronically-infected patients in Niamey, Niger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Niger, 65% of hepatocarcinoma and 75% of cirrhosis cases were due to hepatitis B virus (HBV). We studied the genotypic characteristics of HBsAg in chronically HBV-infected patients in Niamey.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied prospectively HBV genotypic patterns among hospitalized patients with HBV infection in the National Hospital of Niamey, Niger. Patients were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV genotyping was performed on the HBsAg-positive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we have confirmed the predominance of the HBV genotype E (HBV-E) in Niger and have identified 2 recombinant forms including HBV-E/D and HBV-A3/E reported previously among blood donors in Niger and Ghana, respectively. Amino acid substitutions found in HBV sequences obtained here included P120T, S143L, G145A and A194T. These substitutions were characterized as being associated with modified antigenicity and, notably, with impaired serological detection of HBsAg, while the A194T variant was found to have a controversial role in reduced susceptibility to tenofovir.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have identified two recombinant HBV forms and rare genotypic patterns in Niger that may affect hepatitis B surface antigen antigenicity, and improve current knowledge of epidemiological, clinical and virological patterns of hepatitis B in this country.
authors.affiliation: IHU Méditerranée Infection, Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Nord, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, chemin des Bourrely, 13915 Marseille cedex 20; Service de médecine interne, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brah
authors.affiliation: Service de maladies infectieuses, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Sahada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Achirou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inoua
authors.affiliation: Service de biologie et virologie, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Daouda Maiga
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alhousseini
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Mamane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daou
authors.affiliation: Service de gastro entérologie, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Boubacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madougou
authors.affiliation: IHU Méditerranée Infection, Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Fédération de Bactériologie-Hygiène-Virologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, 264 rue Saint-Pierre 13385, Marseille CEDEX 05, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Romera
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Adamou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamadou
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, Hôpital National de Niamey, BP 238 - Niger.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adehossi
authors.affiliation: IHU Méditerranée Infection, Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Nord, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, chemin des Bourrely, 13915 Marseille cedex 20; Aix-Marseille University, URMITE UM 63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1905, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille University, URMITE UM 63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1905, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France; IHU Méditerranée Infection, Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Fédération de Bactériologie-Hygiène-Virologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, 264 rue Saint-Pierre 13385, Marseille CEDEX 05, France. Electronic address: philippe.colson@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009548:Niger; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Hepatitis B; Niamey; Niger; genotype; hepatitis B surface antigen; recombinant