title: Heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus genotype D in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B and C are predominant in Japan. Previously, we reported that approximately 9% of HBV carriers in the Ehime area of western Japan were infected with genotype D (HBV/D) and their sequences closely related. Recently, serum samples from 3 patients with chronic HBV/D infections living in Tokyo and the surrounding area became available for testing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the HBV/D isolates from these different areas of Japan are closely related.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 3 Tokyo area patients infected with HBV/D, 2 had chronic hepatitis, and 1 had hemophilia with a history of frequent coagulation factor injections. The complete HBV/D genome sequences of each were determined, and compared with those of subjects from the Ehime area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 3 HBV/D sequences had a genomic length of 3,182 bases, and the hepatitis B surface antigen subtype was ayw3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 1 of the HBV/D isolates was closely related to the isolates from Ehime Prefecture, while 1 was similar and 1 was clearly distinct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that HBV/D infections in Japan are heterogeneous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan. mich@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michitaka
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: Tran Nhu
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: Michiyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yagura
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens