title: Molecular genetic diversity of hepatitis B virus in Kenya.
abstract: Eight genotypes of hepatitis B virus (A-H) and subgenotypes have been recognized worldwide. However, there is limited information on prevalent genotypes in many countries in Africa. This study was undertaken to determine the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Kenya. Seropositive HBV blood samples from a blood donor setting were used in the study. HBV genotypes were determined in 52 nucleic acid-positive samples using specific primer in a nested PCR and sequencing employed in the HBV genotyping. This study shows presence of HBV variants with genotypes A (88%), E (8%) and D (4%). In conclusion, we found that HBV genotype A is the most predominant genotype in Kenya with both subgenotype A1 and A2 present. Genotype D and E are also present in our population. This demonstrates that there could be a high genetic diversity of HBV in Kenya.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. jmwangi@kemri.org
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mwangi
authors.forename: Zipporah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nganga
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Songok
authors.forename: Joyceline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinyua
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lagat
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muriuki
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lihana
authors.forename: Samoel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khamadi
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lwembe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiptoo
authors.forename: Matilu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwau
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chirchir
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mpoke
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyamongo
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Okoth
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ichimura
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; 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; D007630:Kenya; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens