HBV genotype and subtypes in HBV infected patients with and without HIV infection

The infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV are a part of world health complications. Chronic hepatitis B affects nearly 10% of HIV-infected patients. Four million people are estimated to have HBV/HIV co-infection worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of HBV genotypes and subtypes in Iranian HBV infected patients with or without HIV coinfection. Sera from 58 Hepatitis B patients including 30(51.7%) with HBV infection and 28 (48.3%) with HIV/HBV co-infection were collected from medical centers in Tehran, Fars and Hormozgan provinces in years 2007-2009. DNA was extracted and surface gene (S region) was amplified by Nested PCR and subjected to sequencing. Phylogenic analysis was done using Mega4 software and drawing phylogenetic tree. Genotype D was the only genotype detected in both groups of patients. HBV subtypes observed in patients without HIV coinfection were ayw2 (27.90, 30%), ayw3(1.30, 3/3%) and ayw4 (2.6, 30.7%) while the subtypes found in HBV patients coinfected with HIV were included ayw2 (10.28, 7.35%), ayw3 (11.28, 39.3%) and ayw4 (7.28, 25%). The findings revealed a significant correlation between the types of infection (HBV/HIV co-infection or HBV mono infection) and the subtypes (P<0.001). The individuals With HBV infection that carry ayw4 and ayw3 subtypes are more likely to be infected with HIV.