Numerous linked cases of acute genotype F hepatitis B virus infections in people living with HIV or on pre-exposure prophylaxis

@article{rouget2026numerous,
  title = {{Numerous linked cases of acute genotype F hepatitis B virus infections in people living with HIV or on pre-exposure prophylaxis}},
  author = {Rémi Rouget and Valentin Leducq and Sarah Maylin and Joël Gozlan and Vincent Thibault and Marc-Antoine Valantin and Séverine Mercier-Delarue and Antoine Faycal and Nadia Valin and Marc Wirden and Theophile Cocherie and Sepideh Akhavan and Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso and Sophie Sayon and Stéphane Chevaliez and Tiffany Bouille and Antoine Fauchois and Vincent Calvez and Anne-Geneviève Marcelin and Karine Lacombe and Constance Delaugerre and Valérie Pourcher and Victoria Manda and Sophie Seang and Eve Todesco},
  journal = {Clinical Microbiology and Infection},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.1016/j.cmi.2026.10.008},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05850200v2},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Numerous linked cases of acute genotype F hepatitis B virus infections in people living with HIV or on pre-exposure prophylaxis
AU  - Rémi Rouget
AU  - Valentin Leducq
AU  - Sarah Maylin
AU  - Joël Gozlan
AU  - Vincent Thibault
AU  - Marc-Antoine Valantin
AU  - Séverine Mercier-Delarue
AU  - Antoine Faycal
AU  - Nadia Valin
AU  - Marc Wirden
AU  - Theophile Cocherie
AU  - Sepideh Akhavan
AU  - Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso
AU  - Sophie Sayon
AU  - Stéphane Chevaliez
AU  - Tiffany Bouille
AU  - Antoine Fauchois
AU  - Vincent Calvez
AU  - Anne-Geneviève Marcelin
AU  - Karine Lacombe
AU  - Constance Delaugerre
AU  - Valérie Pourcher
AU  - Victoria Manda
AU  - Sophie Seang
AU  - Eve Todesco
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/03
JO  - Clinical Microbiology and Infection
DO  - 10.1016/j.cmi.2026.10.008
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05850200v2
AB  - Objectives: At least 2.7 million people living with HIV are infected with HBV worldwide. Some antiretroviral treatments and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) protect against HBV infection. However, emerging antiretroviral (ARV) strategies without any activity against HBV may promote spread of this virus in the future. In this context, we studied recent cases of acute HBV infection in people at risk of sexually transmitted infections. Our objective was to better understand HBV circulation and the dynamics of its transmission. Methods: This retrospective study included people diagnosed with acute hepatitis B virus infections between 2022 and 2025 in France. The whole HBV genome was amplified and sequenced by NGS for network analysis. Results: Sixteen men, with a median age of 35 years, were enrolled. Six were living with HIV, including three receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir/rilpivirine treatment. Four of the HIV-negative individuals were taking PrEP. Nine had been vaccinated against HBV, and six had anti-HBs antibody titers between 10 and 100 IU/L. Analysis revealed HBV genotype F1b in 14 patients, with very high homology among the viruses. No known immune escape mutations were identified, even in the individuals with anti-HBs antibodies. Conclusions: A transmission cluster of HBV F1b genotype was observed in a population at risk of infection. This genotype, which is endemic to Latin Ameria, is rarely detected in France. These findings may serve as a timely reminder of the ongoing circulation of HBV among exposed populations. HBV transmission among vaccinated individuals with positive anti-HBs antibodies raises questions and should be further studied.
SN  - 1198-743X
SN  - 1469-0691
ER  -