Prevalence of genotypes and sub-genotypes of the hepatitis B virus in a population of the Brazilian Amazon region (Pará State)

Abstract

Objectives: The present study identified the prevalent hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and subtypes in patients from the Brazilian state of Pará. Materials: A sample of 40 patients infected with HBV was selected from a special facility in Belém between January, 2007, and December, 2008. Clinical, biochemical, serological, virological and pathological variables were used to classify patients as inactive carriers and those with chronic hepatitis, either with or without cirrhosis. Serological tests were performed using enzyme immunoassays and viral DNA sequences and the viral load were assessed using PCR. The HBV genotypes were identified through the sequencing of the S region. Results: All but two of the patients sequenced were genotype A, of which, 92% were A1 and 8% A2. The other two patients were genotype D. The A1 samples were either subtype ayw1 or adw2, while the A2 and D subjects were adw2 and ayw3, respectively. The prevalence of genotype A was 90.5% in group A and 100% in group B. Conclusion: No association was found between genotype and the clinical outcomes of the HBV infection. © 2013 da Silva Conde SRS, et al.