Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major public health concern responsible for hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In Mozambique, HBsAg prevalence is high and endemic, and despite the strategies to mitigate the spread of the disease, the HCC incidence is still high and one of the highe...

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Main Authors: Olga Maquessene, Osvaldo Laurindo, Lúcia Chambal, Nalia Ismael, Nédio Mabunda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/94
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author Olga Maquessene
Osvaldo Laurindo
Lúcia Chambal
Nalia Ismael
Nédio Mabunda
author_facet Olga Maquessene
Osvaldo Laurindo
Lúcia Chambal
Nalia Ismael
Nédio Mabunda
author_sort Olga Maquessene
collection DOAJ
description Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major public health concern responsible for hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In Mozambique, HBsAg prevalence is high and endemic, and despite the strategies to mitigate the spread of the disease, the HCC incidence is still high and one of the highest in the world. There is still limited data on the serological profile and molecular epidemiology of HBV in Mozambique given the burden of this disease. In this study, we aimed to describe the serological and molecular characterization of HBV among blood donors. We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November 2014 to October 2015 at the Blood Bank of the Hospital Central de Maputo. Serological testing and molecular testing were performed. The frequency of HBV infection was estimated at 4.4% and was higher among males (79.1%), individuals aged 25–39 years (55.2%), and replacement donors (89.6%). The median viral load of HBV-positive blood donors was 1288.5 IU/mL, and 43.8% had a viral load higher than 2000 IU/mL. Most of the sequenced samples (94.3%) belonged to subgenotype A1. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance to inform effective HBV control strategies and present evidence about the burden of HBV among blood donors, which definitely requires attention, and clinical blood banks in Mozambique and in similar settings.
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spelling doaj-art-03ef0844f94e4a52b7397a55e5ba04e12025-01-24T13:52:34ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-01-011719410.3390/v17010094Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, MozambiqueOlga Maquessene0Osvaldo Laurindo1Lúcia Chambal2Nalia Ismael3Nédio Mabunda4Instituto Nacional de Saúde of Mozambique, EN1, Bairro da Vila, Marracuene 3943, MozambiqueInstituto Nacional de Saúde of Mozambique, EN1, Bairro da Vila, Marracuene 3943, MozambiqueFaculty of Medicine, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Avenida Salvador Allende 1113, Maputo City 1100, MozambiqueInstituto Nacional de Saúde of Mozambique, EN1, Bairro da Vila, Marracuene 3943, MozambiqueInstituto Nacional de Saúde of Mozambique, EN1, Bairro da Vila, Marracuene 3943, MozambiqueHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major public health concern responsible for hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In Mozambique, HBsAg prevalence is high and endemic, and despite the strategies to mitigate the spread of the disease, the HCC incidence is still high and one of the highest in the world. There is still limited data on the serological profile and molecular epidemiology of HBV in Mozambique given the burden of this disease. In this study, we aimed to describe the serological and molecular characterization of HBV among blood donors. We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November 2014 to October 2015 at the Blood Bank of the Hospital Central de Maputo. Serological testing and molecular testing were performed. The frequency of HBV infection was estimated at 4.4% and was higher among males (79.1%), individuals aged 25–39 years (55.2%), and replacement donors (89.6%). The median viral load of HBV-positive blood donors was 1288.5 IU/mL, and 43.8% had a viral load higher than 2000 IU/mL. Most of the sequenced samples (94.3%) belonged to subgenotype A1. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance to inform effective HBV control strategies and present evidence about the burden of HBV among blood donors, which definitely requires attention, and clinical blood banks in Mozambique and in similar settings.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/94HBVblood donorsserological profilegenetic diversityMozambique
spellingShingle Olga Maquessene
Osvaldo Laurindo
Lúcia Chambal
Nalia Ismael
Nédio Mabunda
Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
Viruses
HBV
blood donors
serological profile
genetic diversity
Mozambique
title Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
title_full Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
title_fullStr Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
title_full_unstemmed Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
title_short Serological and Molecular Characterization of the Hepatitis B Virus in Blood Donors in Maputo City, Mozambique
title_sort serological and molecular characterization of the hepatitis b virus in blood donors in maputo city mozambique
topic HBV
blood donors
serological profile
genetic diversity
Mozambique
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/94
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