title: Circulation of genotype-I hepatitis B virus in the primitive tribes of Arunachal Pradesh in early sixties and molecular evolution of genotype-I.
abstract: Retrospective serologic screening of 1077 serum samples collected from the primitive tribe from north-eastern India in 1963 revealed high prevalence of HBV (15% HBsAg carrier rate) and HCV (7% anti-HCV positivity) and co-circulation of multiple HBV genotypes-A, C, D and G. Full genome sequencing classified all the G-genotype samples as genotype-I. Comparison of genotype-I-HBV full-genome sequences representing 1963 (n=5, this study) and 2005 (reported earlier) showed identical recombination break-points of genotypes-A/G/C. Genotype-C and genotype-C-fragment of I-genotype circulating in 1963 were distinctly different. The data demonstrates that the recombination events were not recent. Molecular clock analysis predicted existence of genotype-I in this tribe during 1920s.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Group, National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pashan, Pune 411021, India.
authors.forename: Bangari P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Haldipur
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Group, National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pashan, Pune 411021, India.
authors.forename: Atul M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Walimbe
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Group, National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pashan, Pune 411021, India. Electronic address: varankalle@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vidya A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Arankalle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D065288:Serogroup; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Genotype I; HBV; India; Primitive tribes; Recombination analysis