PONE-D-20-19293

Prevalence and genetic variability of occult hepatitis B virus in a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient cohort in Gondar, Ethiopia

PLOS ONE

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: The authors described the prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) in HIV infected patients, as well as their genotypes and mutations in S, P and pre-C-C regions. The study was conducted on 308 HIV + patients’ in Gondar, Ethiopia. The authors had already assessed the prevalence of HBsAg in this same cohort in 2017. OBI was identified in 291 HBsAg negatives HIV infected patients. Obove them 115 (39.5%) were anti-HBc (+) with an OBI prevalence over 19% (22/115 patients).

Male gender groups seem to be the most affected (prevalence not calculated by the authors) and are all of D genotypes.

Genotype D has been reported to be predominant. Mutations associated with HBV reactivation were detected in 3/22 OBI patients. The most common resistant mutation rtM204V / I (lamivudine), affecting the C domain of the polymerase by transforming the YMDD motif into YVDD or YIDD was found in one treatment-naive patient. The authors show the importance of diagnosing OBI in HIV infected patients.

Material and methods

Line 106-107: Patient recruitment period was not specified.

Lines 174-175; 196-197: legends of Figures 1 and 2 are not at their appropriate place. They should be placed under the corresponding figures.

Primers sequences and amplified fragments size were not specified in the methodology.

Statistical analyzes:

the p value should be specified.

Results:

Line 146-154 and table 1: We understand that it is the same cohort, but the same results have already been published by the same team in 2017 as well as all the results of table 1, which already appeared in table 1 of the ref 15. A summary of these results might be sufficient.

The authors should focus on new findings specific to the sub-cohort where OBI is reported.

Image quality of phylogenetic tree could be improved. It will help to differentiate the patients’ sequences from references. Highlighting the patients’ sequence when editing the phylogenetic tree would improve clarity.

- It would be interesting to see viral loads results.

- Was co-infection with hepatitis C investigated?

- Did the authors find deletions in S region?

Ligne 223: Cote d’ Ivoire (french) = Ivory coast

References

Reference 2: authors list doesn’t appear on the reference 2.

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Reviewer #1: No

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Prevalence and genetic variability of occult hepatitis B virus in a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient cohort in Gondar, Ethiopia

PONE-D-20-19293R1

Dear Dr. Deressa,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Isabelle Chemin, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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