Diversity of HBV genotypes and their association with precore/basal core mutations among HBsAg-positive patients in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most implicated cause of severe liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Studies have shown that the basal core protein (BCP) and precore protein (PC) of HBV play a significant role in HBV-related carcinogenesis. There is a paucity of data on the type and effect of BCP and PC mutations in Nigeria.