Hepatitis B virus genotypes: a retrospective survey in Southwestern France, 1999-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of HBV genotypes in Southwestern France and the association between HBV genotypes and patients characteristics.


METHODS
194 HBsAg-positive patients (median age: 45 yrs, range: 7-77, male: 78%) followed in Bordeaux Hospital in 1999-2004 were included. HBV genotype, pre-core (PC) and core promoter (CP) mutations were determined by sequencing.


RESULTS
Genotype distribution was A 51%, B 6.7%, C 5.7%, D 26.3%, E 7.7%, F 0.5%, G 2.1%. Among the 146 patients documented, 71.2% were Caucasians, 15.8% Africans, 13.0% Asians. Fifty-seven patients (36%) were HIV-infected. Eighty-two (42.3%) patients were HBeAg-positive. Genotype A was almost exclusively carried by Caucasians (96%), Africans were most frequent among genotype E (82%), and Asians were most prevalent among genotypes B and C (82% and 80%, respectively). Genotype A was associated with a higher prevalence of HBeAg than genotype D (53% versus 35.3%, P=0.03). PC variant was detected in 35% and CP variant in 43% of patients. PC variant was uncommon in genotype A patients (7.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Distribution of HBV genotypes differs according to ethnic origin, genotypes A and D being the most frequently found. Genotype A was more frequently associated with HBeAg-positivity and genotype D with HBeAg-negativity.
Trimoulet
Pascale
P
Laboratoire de virologie; Hôpital Pellegrin, 33076 bordeaux Cedex. pascale.trimoulet@chu-bordeaux.fr
Boutonnet
Mathieu
M
Winnock
Maria
M
Faure
Muriel
M
Loko
Marc-Arthur
MA
De Lédinghen
Victor
V
Bernard
Pierre-Henri
PH
Castéra
Laurent
L
Foucher
Juliette
J
Dupon
Michel
M
Ragnaud
Jean-Marie
JM
Lafon
Marie-Edith
ME
Couzigou
Patrice
P
Dabis
François
F
Fleury
Hervé
H
Neau
Didier
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins