Acute hepatitis A virus infection in Turkey.
Anti-HAV IgM positive serum samples from acute phase hepatitis A patients from various areas in Turkey were tested for viral RNA by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), using primer pairs from two different regions of the HAV genome. The PCR products amplified from both genomic regions underwent phylogenetic analyses. A comparison of the regions showed the same genotyping results, and the RT-PCR-2 in the 5'NCR demonstrated greater sensitivity compared to RT-PCR-1 in the VP1-P2A region. The majority of the isolates belonged to genotype IB and are related closely to each other; however, two isolates related even more strongly to the HAV HM175 strain. Two (n = 37) RT-PCR positive sera were classified under genotype IA. A surprising finding emerged for the mean levels of serum transaminases AST and ALT: higher levels were found in patients under 10 years of age compared to older patients. Anti-HAV IgM levels were determined quantitatively and, in addition, the HAV-RNA genome equivalents were ascertained by real time RT-PCR. No evidence was found for an association between viral load and the higher transaminase levels in the younger group.
Normann
Andrea
A
University of Tübingen, Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Badur
Selim
S
Onel
Derya
D
Kilic
Ayse
A
Sidal
Müjgan
M
Larouzé
Bernard
B
Massari
Veronique
V
Müller
Julia
J
Flehmig
Bertram
B
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral; C096539:VP1 protein, hepatitis A virus; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase