Heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus genotype D in Japan.
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.
Michitaka
Kojiro
K
Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan. mich@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Horiike
Norio
N
Duong
Tran Nhu
TN
Yagura
Michiyasu
M
Harada
Hideharu
H
Shibayama
Takao
T
Inui
Ayano
A
Fujisawa
Tomoo
T
Matsuura
Kana
K
Hiasa
Yoichi
Y
Onji
Morikazu
M
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens