SUBGENOTYPIC DIVERSITY OF HEPATITIS D VIRUS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA)

Viral hepatitis D is one of the most severe forms of viral hepatitis with the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and is difficult to treat. Genotype 1 of the D virus is widespread, with other genotypes distributed unevenly across continents. In Russia, the Republics of Tyva and Yakutia are endemic regions for hepatitis D. According to our research, genotypes 1 and 2 of the D virus are found in Yakutia. The aim of the study was to determine the replicative activity of the virus and their genotypic and subgenotypic diversity. Methods and materials: sequencing was performed using the Sanger method on a 500 bp section of the 3’-end of the LHDAg gene. 499 people were tested for hepatitis D viruses using the PCR method. Results: the incidence of viral hepatitis B is decreasing. In 2023, the rate of acute viral hepatitis was 0.40 per 100 thousand population (RF – 0.34), chronic viral hepatitis B – 17.3 per 100 thousand population (RF – 8.5). When determining the viral load, 64 % of patients had simultaneous replication of both viruses (HBV + HDV +), only 36 % had replication of the D virus. Genotyping of the hepatitis D virus revealed genotype 1 in 46.5 % of patients, genotype 2 – in 53.5 %. A phylogenetic analysis showed that among isolates belonging to genotype 1, 2 isolates of 2019 and 3 isolates from the GenBank database are grouped with isolates belonging to cluster 1c, and 3 isolates of 2019 and the Yakut-8 isolate from the GenBank database formed a separate branch located between clusters 1c and 1e. All isolates of genotype 2 belonged to subgenotype 2b. Conclusion: It is shown that hepatitis Delta virus of genotypes 1 and 2 are widespread in Yakutia, and subgenotype 1c and subgenotype 2b were identified for the first time.

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