Molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus isolates in Mexico:Predominant circulation of hepatitis B virus genotype H

摘要

AIM: To determine the genotypes in Mexican hepatitis Bvirus (HBV) isolates and characterize their precore andcore promoter mutations.METHODS: Forty-nine HBV isolates of Mexico obtainedfrom sera of 15 hepatitis patients, 6 hemodialysis pa-tients, 20 men seeking HIV testing, and 8 AIDS patientswere analyzed. HBV isolates were amplified by PCR,and genotyped by line probe assay (INNO-LiPA HBVGenotyping; INNOGENETICS N V, Ghent, Belgium).HBV genotype confirmation was performed by DNAsequencing part of the sAg region. Precore and core pro-moter mutation characterization was performed by lineprobe assay (INNO-LiPA HBV PreCore; INNOGENETICS NV, Ghent, Belgium).RESULTS: Overall, HBV genotype H was found in 37(75.5%) out of the 49 isolates studied. HBV genotypesG, A, and D were found in 5 (10.2%), 4 (8.2%), and 3(6.1%) isolates, respectively. HBV genotype H was pre-dominant in isolates from hemodialysis patients (100%),hepatitis patients (80%), and men seeking HIV test-ing (75%), and accounted for half of infections in AIDSpatients (50%). Six (12.2%) out of the 49 HBV isolatesshowed both wild type and mutant populations at pre-core codon 28. These mixed wild type and precore mu-tant populations were observed in one HBV genotype Aisolate and in all HBV genotype G isolates. A dual variantcore promoter mutation was observed in 1 (2%) of theisolates, which was genotype H.CONCLUSION: HBV genotype H is highly predominantin HBV isolates of Mexico followed by genotypes G, Aand D. A low frequency of precore and core promotermutations is observed in HBV Mexican isolates.