title: Characterization of HBV2-like infections in Spain.
abstract: Hepatitis B viral serum markers suggestive of infection by hepatitis B virus type 2 were found in 354 patients tested in the laboratory during a 2.5 year period of study. Confirmation of the HBsAg reactivity by neutralization and subtyping analysis and determination of serum HBV-DNA by molecular hybridization were carried out on selected samples from these patients. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from 234 patients and serological follow-up was done in 70 cases. The results obtained from the confirmatory tests and DNA assays indicated that HBsAg reactivities were specific, being frequently associated to low levels of HBV-DNA. The incidence rates obtained for HBV2 serological patterns among patients at different level of risk for HBV infection, as well as the finding of a high rate of coinfection with hepatitis A virus among those showing acute hepatitis, suggested that the HBV2 agent could be transmitted by the oral route. An hypothesis considering the so called HBV2 infections as resulting from infections by an HBV variant strain which has an improved ability for non-sexual, non-parenteral transmission is suggested. Specific recommendations for detection and confirmation of such cases in blood banks are also outlined.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología, e Inmunología Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuertes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002353:Carrier State; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens