The impact of viral molecular diversity on the clinical presentation and outcome of acute hepatitis B in Italy.
The incidence of acute hepatitis B (AHB) in Italy, mostly sustained by hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype D, has significantly decreased in the last two decades, but the new HBV strains introduced through immigrant populations from countries with a higher endemicity constitute a new emergency. HBV-genotype D still predominates in AHB, the subgenotype D3 being associated with parenteral transmission, and the recently emerging subgenotype A2 with unsafe sexual intercourse. Genetic, phylogenetic and evolutional analyses are powerful tools for countries with high immigration rates to monitor new viral strains with different aggressiveness and a different response to therapy.
"F. Magrassi and A. Lanzara" Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Caterina
C
Sagnelli
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious, Parasite and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Italian Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
Massimo
M
Ciccozzi
Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Mariantonietta
M
Pisaturo
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious, Parasite and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Italian Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Lo Presti
Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious, Parasite and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Italian Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
Eleonora
E
Cella
Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Nicola
N
Coppola
Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Evangelista
E
Sagnelli
D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny
Acute hepatitis B; Epidemiology of acute hepatitis B; HBV genotypes and subgenotypes; HBV phylogenetic analysis