Genetic Heterogeneity and Mutated PreS Analysis of Duck Hepatitis B Virus Recently Isolated from Ducks and Geese in China

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), owing to its high similarity to the human hepatitis B virus (HBV), is an ideal model for HBV research. In this study, 23 complete genomes of Chinese strains of DHBV were analyzed using phylogenetic methods, and their recombinant events were predicted and analyzed. These data aid in understanding the intergenotypic recombination of HBV and are expected to promote further research on the epidemiology and evolution of DHBV. ABSTRACT: In this study, we detected 12 duck and 11 goose flocks that were positive for duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) using polymerase chain reaction and isolated 23 strains between 2020 and 2022 in China. The complete genomes of goose strains E200801 and E210501 shared the highest identity (99.9%), whereas those of strains Y220217 and E210526 shared the lowest identity (91.39%). The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the genome sequences of these strains and reference strains was classified into three major clusters: the Chinese branch DHBV-I, the Chinese branch DHBV-II, and the Western branch DHBV-III. Furthermore, the duck-origin strain Y200122 was clustered into a separate branch and was predicted to be a recombinant strain derived from DHBV-M32990 (belonging to the Chinese branch DHBV-I) and Y220201 (belonging to the Chinese branch DHBV-II). Additionally, preS protein analysis of the 23 DHBV strains revealed extensive mutation sites, almost half of which were of duck origin. All goose-origin DHBV contained the mutation site G133E, which is related to increased viral pathogenicity. These data are expected to promote further research on the epidemiology and evolution of DHBV. Continuing DHBV surveillance in poultry will enhance the understanding of the evolution of HBV.