title: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis delta viruses circulating in the Western Amazon region, North Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) represent important public health problems in the Western Amazon region with reported cases of fulminant hepatitis. This cross sectional study describes HBV and HDV genotypes circulating in the Brazilian Amazon region.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBsAg positive individuals (n = 224) were recruited in Manaus/Amazonas State (130 blood donors from the Hematology and Hemotherapy Foundation from Amazonas/HEMOAM; 60 subjects from outpatient clinic) and in Eirunepe city (n = 34) from 2003-2009. Most participants (n = 153) lived in Manaus, 63 were from 20 remote isolated municipalities, 8 lived outside Amazonas State. Genotyping was based on PCR products: HBV genotype A-F specific primers, restricted length polymorphism for HDV. HDV isolates were directly sequenced (delta antigen 405 nucleotide fragment) and phylogenetic analysis performed (MEGA; neighbor-joining, Kimura's two parameter).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants were young adult males and HBV mono-infection predominated (70.5%, 158/224). Among blood donors, outpatient subjects and individuals from Eirunepe, HBV/A prevailed followed by HBV/D and F (p > 0.05). HBV/A was more frequent in blood donors (p < 0.05). HBV-HDV coinfection rate was 8.5% in blood donors (11/130), 65.0% (39/60) in outpatient subjects and 47.0% (16/34) in individuals from Eirunepe. Compared to blood donors, coinfection was higher in outpatient subjects (65.0% versus 8.5%; RR = 5.0; CI 3.4-7.9; p < 0.0001) and in subjects from Eirunepe (47.0% versus 8.5%; RR = 5.5; CI 3.0-9.9; p < 0.0001). HBV-HDV coinfection rates were higher in patients from highly endemic remote cities. Only HDV genotype 3 was detected, HBV/F-HDV/3 predominated (20/38; 52.7%), followed by HBV/A-HDV/3 (31.6%; 12/38) and HBV/D-HDV/3 (15.8%; 6/38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The description of HBV and HDV genotypes circulating in the western Amazon can contribute to a better understanding of their relevance on the regional epidemics. These infections are highly endemic in the Amazon where their control is challenged by its vast territorial dimension with small, hard-to-reach municipalities dispersed into the jungle and populated by diverse ethnic groups.
authors.forename: Myuki Alfaia Esashika
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crispim
authors.forename: Nelson Abrahim
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Fraiji
authors.forename: Sonia Cordeiro
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Campello
authors.forename: Nicolaus Albert
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Schriefer
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Goias, Tropical Pathology and Public Health Institute, Goiânia, Brazil. mmastefani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariane Martins Araújo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kiesslich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens