Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District, Northwest Region, Cameroon.
- 1University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
- 2Centre Pasteur in Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- 3University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
Abstract
Objectives
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Africa, with an estimated 82 million people living with chronic HBV infection. The outcome of exposure to HBV is a complex interplay between host immunity and viral factors, including HBV genotypes. Despite the high burden of HBV infection, data on HBV genotypes circulating in many African settings, including Cameroon, remain limited. This study investigated the genetic diversity of HBV among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District, Cameroon.Methods
In this cross-sectional hospital-based study, HBV DNA was extracted from plasma samples from consenting health care workers who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The partial pre-S2/S region was amplified and sequenced, and major HBV genotypes were assigned by phylogenetic analysis.Results
The S-gene region was successfully amplified and sequenced from 11 participants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that five sequences clustered with genotype E and four with genotype A references, whereas two divergent sequences remained unresolved. No gross length polymorphism was observed among the amplified products.Conclusion
This study highlights HBV genetic diversity among HCWs in Cameroon, with genotype A- and genotype E-associated sequences represented among the eligible samples. The coexistence of these genotypes may reflect patterns of HBV exposure and transmission and provides molecular evidence on HBV genotypes circulating in this population in Cameroon.
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BibTeX
@article{akazong2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District, Northwest Region, Cameroon.}},
author = {Etheline W Akazong and Richard Njouom and Marie Amogou and Lawrence Ayong and Christopher Tume and Jules-Roger Kuiate},
journal = {IJID regions},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.101012},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910022},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District, Northwest Region, Cameroon.
AU - Etheline W Akazong
AU - Richard Njouom
AU - Marie Amogou
AU - Lawrence Ayong
AU - Christopher Tume
AU - Jules-Roger Kuiate
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - IJID regions
DO - 10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.101012
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910022
AB - Objectives Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Africa, with an estimated 82 million people living with chronic HBV infection. The outcome of exposure to HBV is a complex interplay between host immunity and viral factors, including HBV genotypes. Despite the high burden of HBV infection, data on HBV genotypes circulating in many African settings, including Cameroon, remain limited. This study investigated the genetic diversity of HBV among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District, Cameroon.Methods In this cross-sectional hospital-based study, HBV DNA was extracted from plasma samples from consenting health care workers who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The partial pre-S2/S region was amplified and sequenced, and major HBV genotypes were assigned by phylogenetic analysis.Results The S-gene region was successfully amplified and sequenced from 11 participants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that five sequences clustered with genotype E and four with genotype A references, whereas two divergent sequences remained unresolved. No gross length polymorphism was observed among the amplified products.Conclusion This study highlights HBV genetic diversity among HCWs in Cameroon, with genotype A- and genotype E-associated sequences represented among the eligible samples. The coexistence of these genotypes may reflect patterns of HBV exposure and transmission and provides molecular evidence on HBV genotypes circulating in this population in Cameroon.
SN - 2772-7076
ER -