Genotyping of acute HBV isolates from England, 1997-2001.
BACKGROUND
Increasing data shows the relevance of HBV genotypes in the outcome of infection. Most studies investigating the relationship between the genotypic characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the clinical or epidemiological aspects of HBV infection originate from studies of patients with chronic rather than acute hepatitis B.


OBJECTIVE
To study a convenience sample representing ca. 5% of reported acute hepatitis B in England between 1997 and 2001 to investigate the distribution of HBV genotypes and specific HBV variants with epidemiological risk factors, thereby providing baseline data for ongoing surveillance.


METHODS
From 160 serum samples, PCR was carried out to amplify the first 600 bases of the HBV S gene. Amplicons were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis and risk factor analysis.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven percent of the study samples carried HBV belonging to subtype A2, 13% to subtype D2, and the rest to genotype E (8%) and subtypes C2 and D3 (each 6%), D1 and D4 (each 3%) and B4 (1%). One particular A2 isolate was dominant, accounting for 23% of the total sample set. Drug use and homosexual transmission were equally implicated as risks within genotype A2. No mutations associated with vaccine escape or resistance to antiviral therapy were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Immigration and travel likely shape the observed genotype distribution and consequent prevalence of genotypes other than A2 or D in this population. Data suggests no genetic separation of parenteral and sexually transmitted virus. These data demonstrate the value in pursuing more extensive and recent surveillance.
Sloan
Richard D
RD
Virus Reference Division, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK. richard.sloan@mail.mcgill.ca
Strang
Angela L
AL
Ramsay
Mary E
ME
Teo
Chong-Gee
CG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens