Study on the Impacts of Haemoglobin Genotype on Hepatitis B vaccine Response among Vaccinated Individuals within Bauchi State, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the viral diseases of public health concern globally. It causes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vaccine against hepatitis B has been incorporated into the routine infant immunization schedule of almost all the African Countries. However, reports on the vaccine failure, ranging from sub-optimal response, non-responsiveness, and vaccine breakthrough infection, threaten the vaccine efficacy globally. This study sought to assess the impacts of the Human hemoglobin genotype (HbG) on the vaccine response in Bauchi, north-eastern Nigeria. A cross-section of 196 vaccinated subjects of both sexes, aged 1 to 60 years, were recruited. The blood plasma was separated and used for the detection and titration of Hepatitis B surface antibodies by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The red cell was used for determining Hemoglobin Genotype (HbG) of the subjects. The results indicated that genotypes SS (75%) and AS (61%) had the highest rate of optimal response to the hepatitis B vaccine, respectively, while genotype AC had the least vaccine response and the highest (50%) non-responders to the hepatitis B vaccine. Regarding genotype prevalence, genotypes AA and AS had the highest prevalence of 141 (71.9%) and 49 (25%), respectively. There was no significant relationship between various hemoglobin genotypes and Hepatitis B vaccine response. However, some genotypes have a greater affinity for the hepatitis B vaccine optimal response than others. There is a need for certain individuals to be re-vaccinated while others should go for a vaccine booster dose.