Detection of circulating Hepatitis B virus immune escape and polymerase mutants among HBV positive patients attending Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Central African Republic.

•The region spanning surface antigen and polymerase genes was sequenced in 51 out of 118 HBsAg positive patients in the Central African Republic.•Three potentials HBV Immune Escape Mutants sY100C, sA128V, sM133T as well as several polymerase mutants were detected.•HBV genotypes E were dominant (96%) compared to subgenotype A1 (4%).•Serotype ayw4 accounted for genotype E and ayw1 accounted for subgenotype A1.