Hepatitis B and C virus variants in long-term immunosuppressed renal transplant patients in Latvia

The incidence of genome variants of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses among 38 long-term (2-15 years) immunosuppressed patients after renal transplantation and 10 patients undergoing dialysis was investigated. Twelve patients had only HBV infection, 9 had only HCV infection and 14 were co-infected. Regions corresponding to the HBV X/EnII/BCP, preC/C, preS/S and to the HCV core were sequenced for molecular characterization of the HBV and HCV genomes. Fifty-seven percent of HBV DNA isolates belonged to genotype D and 42% to genotype A, whereas 77% of HCV RNA isolates belonged to genotype 1b and only 17% to genotype 3a. One sample (6%) was of genotype 2c. Detailed analysis of the above-mentioned HBV genome regions revealed the presence of nucleotide point mutations, which, in some cases, resulted in amino acid substitutions. The clinical significance of such mutations is discussed.