Browsing by Author "Maponga, Tongai"

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    Bimodal distribution and set point HBV DNA viral loads in chronic infection : retrospective analysis of cohorts from the UK and South Africa
    (Wellcome Open Research, 2020-10-14) Downs, Louise O.; Vawda, Sabeehah; Bester, Phillip Armand; Lythgoe, Katrina A.; Wang, Tingyan; McNaughton, Anna L.; Smith, David A.; Maponga, Tongai; Freeman, Oliver; Várnai, Kinga A.; Davies, Jim; Woods, Kerrie; Fraser, Christophe; Barnes, Eleanor; Goedhals, Dominique; Matthews, Philippa C.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load (VL) is used as a biomarker to assess risk of disease progression, and to determine eligibility for treatment. While there is a well recognised association between VL and the expression of the viral e-antigen protein, the distributions of VL at a population level are not well described. We here present cross-sectional, observational HBV VL data from two large population cohorts in the UK and in South Africa, demonstrating a consistent bimodal distribution. The right skewed distribution and low median viral loads are different from the left-skew and higher viraemia in seen in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cohorts in the same settings. Using longitudinal data, we present evidence for a stable 'set-point' VL in peripheral blood during chronic HBV infection. These results are important to underpin improved understanding of HBV biology, to inform approaches to viral sequencing, and to plan public health interventions.
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    Hepatitis B virus infection as a neglected tropical disease
    (Public Library of Science, 2017-10-05) O'Hara, Geraldine A.; McNaughton, Anna L.; Maponga, Tongai; Jooste, Pieter; Ocama, Ponsiano; Chileng, Roma; Mokaya, Jolynne; Liyayi, Mitchell I.; Wachira, Tabitha; Gikungi, David M.; Burbridge, Lela; O'Donnel, Denise; Akiror, Connie S.; Sloan, Derek; Torimiro, Judith; Yindom, Louis Marie; Walton, Robert; Andersson, Monique; Marsh, Kevin; Newton, Robert; Matthews, Philippa C.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Global Hepatitis Health Sector Strategy is aiming for “elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat” by 2030 [1], while enhanced elimination efforts for hepatitis are also promoted under the broader remit of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [2]. This is an enormous challenge for hepatitis B virus (HBV) given the estimated global burden of 260 million chronic carriers, of whom the majority are unaware of their infection [3] (Fig 1). We here present HBV within the framework for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) [4] in order to highlight the ways in which HBV meets NTD criteria and to discuss the ways in which the NTD management paradigm could be used to strengthen a unified global approach to HBV elimination [5]. The major burden of morbidity and mortality from HBV is now borne by tropical and subtropical countries [6]. Many African populations epitomize specific vulnerability to HBV [7], so we here focus particular attention on Africa, both through focus on the existing published literature and through presentation of a unique data set of opinion and experience (see S1 Supporting Information). However, the themes we represent are transferable to other low- and middle-income settings and are relevant on the global stage.