Intra Prison Transmission And Genetic Diversity Of Hepatitis B Virus In A Ghanaian Prison

ABSTRACT Background: Selecting an ideal genetic regions for the phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission continue to be a matter of debate, with different researches preferring different genomic region. Whole genome sequence analysis is always the gold standard for this this kind of research. But in middle income countries such as Ghana, where HBV infections are endemic, it is almost impossible to study a large number of samples because of financial constraints. Thus, analysis of nonoverlapping, fast-evolving regions was recommended. Aim: This study determined the intra prison transmission and genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus among inmates in correctional facility in Ghana Methodology: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive archived plasma samples from a Ghanaian prison which was part of a nationwide survey of HIV and HBV in correctional facilities was used for this study. HBV DNA was extracted from 26 archived plasma samples and the precore, core region, surface envelope gene and the preS1 and preS2 regions amplified. The Sanger method was used to sequence the S gene of 17 plasma samples, Precore/core gene of 8 samples and PreS1, PreS2 gene for 5 samples. Sequence Identity Matrix, phylogenetic analysis and mutational analysis were used to establish possible intra prison transmission within the selected prisons. Results: Sixteen out of the 17 successfully sequenced samples belonged to HBV genotype E with the exception of one sample (14S) harboured the A/E recombinant. Sequences from the same prison clustered together and identity matrix revealed a narrower similarity range for these