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Published on: June 16, 2011
Genetic variability of hepatitis B virus in Uruguay: D/F, A/F genotype recombinants
L Lopez1, D Flichman, L Mojsiejczuk
1Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Udelar, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern. This study identified HBV genotypes and recombinants in Uruguay, with implications for understanding viral spread and population genetics.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health challenge, leading to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
- HBV is categorized into genotypes A-H, with proposed genotypes I and J.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the complete genome sequences of HBV strains from Uruguay.
- To identify HBV genotypes, recombinants, and specific mutations within the Uruguayan population.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing of nine HBV samples.
- Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis.
- Detection of HBV recombinants and mutations.
Main Results:
- Five samples were identified as genotype F1b, and one as genotype A2.
- Three HBV recombinants were detected: A1/F1b, A2/F1b, and D3/F1b.
- Specific mutations, including G1896A and deletions in the Pre-S1 region, were identified.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of genotype F strains suggests a higher proportion of indigenous ancestry in the Uruguayan population than officially reported.
- The high rate of HBV recombinants, particularly in specific risk groups like drug addicts and dialysis patients, indicates a potential for complex viral evolution and transmission dynamics.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health problem. Approximately 2 billion people worldwide have been infected, and approximately 350 million individuals currently suffer from HBV-induced chronic liver infection, which causes 600,000 deaths annually from chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV is classified in eight genotypes (A-H), and two more have been proposed (I-J). In this paper, complete genome sequences of nine Uruguayan HBV are reported. Five samples belong to genotype F1b and one to genotype A2. Three HBV recombinants were detected: A1/F1b, A2/F1b and D3/F1b. The following mutations were detected: a G1896A substitution, a 33-nucleotide deletion from position 2896 to 2928 in the Pre-S1 region involving Pre-S1 residues 3-13, a 33-nt deletion in the Pre-S1 region involving nt 2913-2945 and Pre-S1 residues 9-19. More F genotypes strains than expected were detected in this study, supporting the hypothesis that there are more people of indigenous origin than declared in our population. Also, one third of the samples analyzed were recombinants. This cannot be explained by the low HBV prevalence in Uruguay, but a high HBV infection rate in drug addicts and dialysis patients could act in favor of multiple-genotype HBV infections that could lead to recombination.
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