[Genotyping and mutational analysis of occult hepatitis B virus infection in blood donors of Shaoxing].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the molecular biological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected blood donors in Shaoxing.


METHODS
8692 blood donors were screened using ELISA. The occult HBV infection was determined by DNA analysis among the HBsAg negative subjects. DNA sequencing and mutational analysis were further performed in the HBV DNA positive samples. The overall situation of occult HBV infection was hereby evaluated and the possible underlying mechanisms discussed.


RESULTS
Among the 8644 HBsAg negative subjects out of 8692 blood donors, 8 were HBV DNA positive. The occult HBV infection rate was 0.92 per thousand (8/8692). Among the 8 samples, 6 were genotype C (75%) and 2 genotype B (25%). In addition, a specific mutation in "a" epitope was observed in 7 OBI virus strains by amino acid analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
There were occult HBV infected among blood donors in Shaoxing, which is probably associated with the gene mutation of HBV virus.
Shaoxing Blood Center, Shaoxing 312041, China. slyong11@sohu.com
Lie-Yong
LY
Sang
Li-Qiang
LQ
Fu
Fang
F
Fang
Pei-Fen
PF
Zhuang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens