title: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Córdoba, Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The analysis of the genomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identifies phylogenetic variants called genotypes, which may lead to distinct biological and clinical behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the current molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of HBV in Córdoba, Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 52 HBV samples, 40 from HBV mono-infected and 12 from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HBV co-infected patients, were sequenced in the S gene and in the basal core promoter-precore (BCP-pC) region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presence of subgenotypes F1b (35%) and F4 (17.5%), subgenotype A2 (37.5%), C (5.0%) (subgenotype could not be defined) and D (5.0%) (subgenotype D2, and the other could not be defined) were observed among mono-infected patients. The co-infected individuals displayed a different genotype distribution: sub-genotype A2 was the most common (75.0%), followed by subgenotype F1b (25.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed two epidemiologic scenarios: the mono-infected population may represent the ethnic composition of the current human population of Córdoba, where the Amerindian (genotype F) and European origins (subgenotype A2) account for the 90% of the samples; for the co-infected patients, the high prevalence of subgenotype A2 resemble previous analyses from Buenos Aires. In addition, mutations in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), polymerase and BCP-pC regions were identified, mainly in chronic or co-infected patients.
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: fergallego88@gmail.com.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Gallego
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: mbelenpisano@gmail.com.
authors: María Belén
authors: MB
authors: Pisano
authors: Cátedra de Virología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4° piso, C1113AAD Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: carolina_torr@yahoo.com.ar.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Torres
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: lucianacaeiro@hotmail.com.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Caeiro
authors: Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos Especializados-LACE, Vélez Sársfield 528, CP 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: mari_mw@hotmail.com.
authors: Maribel
authors: M
authors: Martínez Wassaf
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: marcosbalangero@yahoo.com.ar.
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Balangero
authors: Cátedra de Virología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4° piso, C1113AAD Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: rcampos@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Campos
authors: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: vivianare@fcm.unc.edu.ar.
authors: Viviana
authors: V
authors: Ré
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
keywords: Argentina; Epidemiology; Genotypes; HBV; HBV/HIV co-infection; Mutants