Genotypes and Subgenotypes of Hepatitis B Virus, Circulating in Belarus

As studies have shown, out of all 884 sequenced and analyzed samples, 722 (81.7%) of them have genotype D; 156 (17.7%) - genotype A; 3 (0.3%) - genotype C and the only 1 (0.1%) – genotype B. For two cases (0.2%) a recombinant form of the hepatitis B virus was detected. Genotype D was found representing by subgenotypes D1 (145/20.1%), D2 (371/51.4%), D3 (201/27, 8%) and D4 (5/0.7%); A – A2; C – C1 and C2; B – B4; recombinant forms C2/ D and A2/ С2 were detected. The epidemic process of hepatitis B in the country is supported mainly by the circulation of “local” variants of the virus. At the same time, there are occasional introductions of new variants from outside the country.