Hepatitis B virus genotypes from European origin explains the high endemicity found in some areas from southern Brazil

Author(s)

Bertolini, Dennis Armando ^[1] ; Gomes-Gouvea, Michele Soares ^{[2, 3]} ; Vicente Guedes de Carvalho-Mello, Isabel Maria ^[4] ; Saraceni, Claudia Patara ^[5] ; Sitnik, Roberta ^[6] ; Grazziotin, Felipe Gobbi ^[7] ; Laurindo, Jomar Pereira ^[8] ; Rosa Fagundes, Nelson Jurandi ^{[7, 9]} ; Carrilho, Flair Jose ^{[2, 3]} ; Rebello Pinho, Joao Renato ^{[2, 3, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Maringa, Dept Anal Clin & Biomed, Lab Imunol Clin, Maringa, Parana - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Gastroenterol, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Inst Trop Med, Lab Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Sch Med, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Inst Butantan, Lab Imunol Viral, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Serv Virol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Dept Patol Clin, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Lab Biol Genom & Mol, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[8] Univ Caxias Sul, Inst Biotechnol, Caxias do Sul, RS - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Genet, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION; v. 12, n. 6, p. 1295-1304, AUG 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 25

Abstract

Southern Brazil is considered an area of low Hepatitis B endemicity, but some areas of higher endemicity have been described in the Southwest of Parana and Santa Catarina states. The aim of this study was to evaluate viral genotypes circulating throughout Parana state. PCR amplification and partial sequencing of the S gene was carried out in 228 samples from HBsAg positive candidate blood donors. Samples have been collected in seven different counties (Cascavel, Curitiba, Foz do Iguacu, Francisco Beltrao, Matinga Londrina and Paranagua). The most common HBV genotype in Parana state was D (82.9%; 189/228), followed by A (14.1%; 32/228). Genotypes F (1.3%; 3/228), C (1.3%; 3/228) and H (0.4%; 1/228) were also found. Distribution of genotypes was different in the studied counties, but genotype D was the most frequent in all of them. In Francisco Beltrao, all studied samples belonged to genotype D. The high prevalence of HBV genotype Din South of Brazil is explained by the intense migration of settlers from Europeans countries. Subgenotypes A1 and A2 were identified circulating in all cities where HBV/A was found. As observed in other areas of Brazil, HBV/A1 is more frequent than the HBV/A2 in Parana state and its presence was significantly larger in black and mulatto individuals. Genotype C was found only in individuals with Asian ancestry from Londrina and Maringa. Most HBV/F sequences identified in this study were classified as subgenotype F2a that was previously described in Brazil. The sole case of subgenotype F4 was from Foz do Iguacu city, near to Northern Argentina, where F4 is highly prevalent. The single genotype H sample was from Curitiba. This is the first case of this genotype described in Brazil. Further studies should be carried out to determine if more genotype H samples can be found in other populations from Brazil. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/50081-9 - Prevalence of primary resistance to antiviral therapy against hepatitis B in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and not submitted to treatment
• Grantee: Michele Soares Gomes Gouvêa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate