Mapping Hepatitis B Virus Research and Genomic Diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Mapping scientific production and viral genomic diversity is essential to identify consolidated research fields, as well as areas of opportunity to improve and expand research across the region. Methods: An integrated analysis combining bibliometrics, text-mining, and phylogenetics was performed on HBV literature indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (1970-2025), alongside 9528 GenBank sequences (including full-length genomes, individual genes, and partial diagnostic fragments). Results: A total of 4083 publications were identified, of which 72.1% (2942/4083) were from Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Most were original articles (75.8%; 2749/3628) involving human cohorts (95.8%; 2471/2580), where primary research fields centered on serological profiling, co-infections, vaccination, genotype characterization, and blood safety, whereas hepatocellular carcinoma, antiviral therapy, and metabolic comorbidities were the least frequently studied areas. In vitro (10.1%; 260/2580) and animal models (6.9%; 177/2580) accounted for a minor fraction of the literature. Eight circulating HBV genotypes (A-H) were detected, dominated by A (43.4%; 4138/9528), F (29.3%; 2787/9528), and D (19.8%; 1885/9528), while genotype H was largely confined to Mexico (3.2%; 306/9528). Marked geographic clustering was observed (p < 0.001), reflecting both autochthonous American and immigrant lineages. Conclusions: Epidemiological studies represent the most consolidated domain in LAC, yet research remains concentrated in a few countries with persistent experimental and clinical gaps. Fostering cross-border collaboration and investing in underexplored translational areas will be decisive in achieving regional hepatitis B elimination.