Predominance of hepatitis B virus genotype C among Karens, the 'old settlers' of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
The Karens, or 'old settlers', migrated from Myanmar to Andaman and Nicobar islands 80 years ago. A high HBV exposure rate among them has been reported. A study of 34 HBsAg carriers was done to investigate the origin of HBV infection among the Karens. RFLP-based genotyping was confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The predominance of HBV/C1/Cs suggests that they carried HBV during their migration, retained it, and in addition, acquired HBV/D2 from the people of mainland India. The reported association of HBV genotype C with disease severity thus warrants further epidemiological investigations among them and on possible spread among neighboring settlers.
Datta
S
S
ICMR Virus Unit, Kolkata, ID and BG Hospital Campus, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Chandra
P K
PK
Banerjee
A
A
Chakravarty
R
R
Murhekar
K M
KM
Murhekar
M V
MV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D002052:Myanmar / Q000208:ethnology; D010802:Phylogeny
D004279:DNA, Viral