title: The distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Thailand.
abstract: Phylogenetic analysis was performed on hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains obtained from 86 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive donors from Thailand originating throughout the country. Based on the S gene, 87.5% of strains were of genotype C while 10.5% were of genotype B, with all genotype B strains obtained from patients originating from the central or the south Thailand. No genotype B strains were found in the north of Thailand. Surprisingly, one patient was infected with a genotype H strain while another patient was infected with a genotype G strain. Complete genome sequencing and recombination analysis identified the latter as being a genotype G and C2 recombinant with the breakpoint around nucleotide position 700. The origin of the genotype G fragment was not identifiable while the genotype C2 fragment most likely came from strains circulating in Laos or Malaysia. The performance of different HBsAg diagnostic kits and HBV nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) was evaluated. The genotype H and G/C2 recombination did not interfere with HBV detection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sudaloui@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Suda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louisirirotchanakul
authors.forename: Christophe M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Olinger
authors.forename: Panida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arunkaewchaemsri
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
authors.forename: Chinda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanoksinsombat
authors.forename: Chittima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thongme
authors.forename: Pattaratida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sa-Nguanmoo
authors.forename: Sasithorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krasae
authors.forename: Apiradee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theamboonlert
authors.forename: Sineenart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oota
authors.forename: Ladda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fongsatitkul
authors.forename: Chintana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puapairoj
authors.forename: Charuporn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Promwong
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058974:Phylogeography; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral