{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T18:34:48Z","timestamp":1784918088697,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770336000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["CIMB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) and mutated forms of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) represent diagnostic challenges, especially in individuals with atypical serological profiles. This study explores the molecular characteristics of HBV in HBsAg-negative women of childbearing age exhibiting atypical serological markers. We selected 100 HBsAg-negative sera from a cohort of 433 women aged 15\u201345 years. Additional HBV serological markers (anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe) were assessed. Real-time PCR targeting the HBV S gene was performed on samples presenting atypical profiles. Socio-demographic and clinical correlates were also analyzed. Atypical serological profiles were identified in 23% of HBsAg-negative women, including combinations such as isolated anti-HBe positivity and anti-HBe with anti-HBc. Among these, none tested positive for HBV DNA by real-time PCR. Atypical profiles were more prevalent among women attending antenatal consultations and those aged under 25 years. The absence of detectable HBV DNA suggests either very low viral loads, resolved past infections, or serological artifacts due to mutated HBV strains. The high frequency of atypical serological patterns among HBsAg-negative women underscores the need to refine molecular diagnostic tools for detecting occult or mutated HBV. Further sequencing and genotypic characterization studies are warranted.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cimb48020184","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T10:05:47Z","timestamp":1770372347000},"page":"184","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Molecular Characterization of Atypical Hepatitis B Serological Profiles in HBsAg-Negative Women of Childbearing Age in Gabon"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"48","author":[{"given":"Isma\u00ebl Pierrick","family":"Mikelet Boussoukou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aude Sandrine","family":"Andeme Eyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jean Alban","family":"Ondh-Obame","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de SVT, Ecole Normale Sup\u00e9rieur, Libreville BP 17009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Philippe Jacques Nathana\u00ebl","family":"Ondamba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marien Juliet","family":"Magossou Mbadinga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Opheelia","family":"Makoyo Komba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Service de Gyn\u00e9cologie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP 212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Serge Thierry","family":"Omouessi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Physiologie, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joel Fleury","family":"Djoba Siawaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-0536-886X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"B\u00e9n\u00e9dicte","family":"Ndeboko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP\u00a0212, Gabon"},{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Biologie Cellulaire & Mol\u00e9culaire, G\u00e9n\u00e9tique, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO) (2025, October 04). 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