title: Transmission of a homogenous hepatitis B virus population of A1896-containing strains leading to mild resolving acute hepatitis and seroconversion to hepatitis B e antigen antibodies in an adult.
abstract: The pre-core variant, A1896, which switches off hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) production, is common in hepatitis B e antigen antibody (anti-HBe)-positive chronic hepatitis patients. It has been observed in occasional case reports of acute hepatitis. However, transmission in the absence of HBeAg-producing strains, leading to acute nonfulminant hepatitis and clearance in adults, has not been reported. Here, we show that this event can occur, further confirming that A1896 strains are "wild-type" and can lead to all the same outcomes as G1896 strains. This is in keeping with phylogenetic evidence that A1896 is transmitted independently on a large scale in the population and explains anti-HBe- positive persons who have not had an HBeAg-positive phase documented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mphahlele
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Shattock
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Carman
mesh_terms: D017931:DNA Primers; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018454:Spouses
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M