[Hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic carriers on the island of Gran Canaria. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Spanish hepatitis B carriers, and to study the differences in epidemiological characteristics, e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, serum DNA viral levels (VL) and liver function alterations.


METHODS
This study included 108 patients. Genotyping was carried out in 84 with the INNO-LiPA HBV genotyping assay (Innogenetics).


RESULTS
There were 41 women and 67 men, with a mean age of 44.1 years. The source of transmission was family contact in 26 patients (24.1%); transfusions in 10 (9.3%); sexual promiscuity in 9 (8.3%), intravenous drug use in 3 (2.8%), health care accident in 2 (1.8%); and unknown causes in 58 (53.7%). Forty patients had chronic hepatitis and 68 (63%) were healthy carriers. The time of evolution of the infection was known in only in 45 patients, and was over 10 years in 42 of them. One hundred patients (92.6%) were HbeAg-negative and 90 (83.3%) had detectable viral DNA. Genotype A was present in 46 (54.8%), D in 20 (23.8%), F in 2 (2,4%), C in 1 (1.2%), A-G coinfection in 7 (8.3%), A-D in 4 (4.8%), D-G in 2 (2,4%), A-C in 1 (1.2%), and A-D-G in 1 (1.2%). There were no significant differences between genotypes. A trend towards an association was found between VL <or= 10(5) copies/mL and the presence of chronic hepatitis in genotype A (28.9%) as opposed to genotype D (7.7%) (p non significant).


CONCLUSIONS
HBV genotypes A and D, and coinfections with G are predominant in our area. Genotype A showed a tendency to produce greater inflammatory activity when VL was <or= 10(5) copies/mL.
Pena-López
María José
MJ
Servicios de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. mpenlopd@gobiernodecanarias.org
Suárez-Bordón
Pino
P
García-Bardeci
Diana
D
Rodríguez-San Román
José Luis
JL
Pérez-González
María Carmen
MC
Lafarga-Capuz
Bernardo
B
D000328:Adult; D001266:Atlantic Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D019562:Viral Load
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens