Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in the United Republic of Tanzania.
In the United Republic of Tanzania, 457 voluntary blood donors were enrolled in hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological screening; 4.8% (22/457) carried HBsAg, 13.6% (3/22) of whom were HBeAg-positive. The mean age among HBeAg-negative carriers was 31 years. HBV DNA was detectable in 81.8% (18/22), the mean level was 3.67 (+/-1.77) log copies/ml. Genotype A was determined in 90.9% (20/22) and 18/20 were classified into subgenotype Aa (Asia/Africa). The basal core promoter, precore and partial core nucleotide sequences were analyzed in the 18 strains; T1809/T1812 ("Kozak" sequence) and A/T1888 (encapsidation signal) variants were identified in 100% and 78%, respectively. The complete genome sequencing for one of the Tanzanian strains revealed no recombination. In conclusion, HBV seroprevalence is high among general population in Tanzania, and the HBV/Aa-infection is predominant. The indicated tendency to early HBeAg seroconversion and declining of the viral load should be confirmed further in case-control studies.
Hasegawa
Izumi
I
Department of Clinical Molecular Informative Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
Tanaka
Yasuhito
Y
Kurbanov
Fuat
F
Yoshihara
Namiko
N
El-Gohary
Ahmed
A
Lyamuya
Eligius
E
Matee
Mecky
M
Magessa
Pius
P
Fujiwara
Kei
K
Ozasa
Atsushi
A
Sugauchi
Fuminaka
F
Orito
Etsuro
E
Ueda
Ryuzo
R
Mizokami
Masashi
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens