title: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in the United Republic of Tanzania.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Informative Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kurbanov
authors.forename: Namiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Gohary
authors.forename: Eligius
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lyamuya
authors.forename: Mecky
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matee
authors.forename: Pius
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magessa
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.forename: Fuminaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sugauchi
authors.forename: Etsuro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orito
authors.forename: Ryuzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizokami
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens