Mutations in the viral hepatitis B virus (HBV) on genes pol and S, can confer the variants a clear survival advantage. The objective of this work was to describe HBV resistance mutations to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and their impact on surface antigen HBs antigen (HBs Ag) in HBV -HIV coinfected patients undergoing antiviral treatment in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). The genotypic resistance interpretation was performed using the HBV Tool algorithm available on the online software (http://www.hivgrade.de/hbv_grade/). In this study, the prevalence of HBV resistance to NRTIs was 17% (5/30). The prevalence of HBsAg escape mutations in patients co-infected with HBV and HIV was 50% (15/30). The prevalence of resistant mutations associated with potential vaccine escape mutations (ADAPVEMs) in HBV-HIV co-infected patients was 13% (4/30). This study has provided important data on the mechanism of HBV escape from NRTIs, immune systems and HBV vaccination in Ivory Coast.
Keywords: HBV resistance, HBV-HIV co-infection, HBs antigen escape mutations