Abstract
In Brazil, little data exist regarding the distribution of genotypes in relation to basal core promoter (BCP) and precore/core mutations among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers from different regions of the country. The aim of this study was to identify HBV genotypes and the frequency of mutations at the BCP and precore/core region among the prevalent genotypes in chronic carriers from southern Brazil. Nested-polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) products amplified from the S-polymerase gene, BCP and precore/core region from 54 samples were sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis of the S-polymerase gene sequences showed that 66.7% (36/54) of the patients were infected with genotype D (D1, D2, D3), 25.9% (14/54) with genotype A (A1, A2), 5.6% (3/54) with subgenotype C2, and 2% (1/54) with genotype E. A comparison of virological characteristics showed significant differences between genotypes A, C and D. The comparison between HBeAg status and the G1896A stop codon mutation in patients with genotype D revealed a relationship between HBV G1896A precore mutants and genotype D and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. Genotype D had a higher prevalence of the G1896A mutation and the presence of a thymine at position 1858. Genotype A was associated with a higher prevalence of the G1862T mutation and the presence of a cytosine at position 1858. HBV genotype D (D3) is predominant in HBV chronic carriers from southern Brazil. The presence of mutations in the BCP and precore/core region was correlated with the HBV genotype and HBeAg negative status.
Highlights
In Brazil, little data exist regarding the distribution of genotypes in relation to basal core promoter (BCP) and precore/core mutations among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers from different regions of the country
Hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in plasma samples from 56 (79%) of the 71 patients included in this study
We characterized HBV subgenotypes in relation to demographic, clinical (HBeAg status/ALT levels) and virological (BCP and precore/core mutations) features in patients chronically infected with HBV from the State of Paraná in Southern Brazil
Summary
In Brazil, little data exist regarding the distribution of genotypes in relation to basal core promoter (BCP) and precore/core mutations among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers from different regions of the country. The aim of this study was to identify HBV genotypes and the frequency of mutations at the BCP and precore/core region among the prevalent genotypes in chronic carriers from southern Brazil. The comparison between HBeAg status and the G1896A stop codon mutation in patients with genotype D revealed a relationship between HBV G1896A precore mutants and genotype D and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. The presence of mutations in the BCP and precore/core region was correlated with the HBV genotype and HBeAg negative status. A recently identified tenth genotype provisionally assigned as genotype J was proposed for a HBV isolate from a Japanese patient
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