title: Hepatitis B virus genotypes among chronic hepatitis B patients reporting at Korle-Bu teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype is an important predictive variable which might have an impact in management and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. In Ghana very little information is available on hepatitis B genotypes. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of HBV genotypes circulating among chronic hepatitis B patients reporting at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples (10 ml) were collected from 250 consenting patients. DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction technique. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used for the detection of genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 250 chronic hepatitis B patients who were HBsAg positive, 91 (36.4%) were males aged 29.8 ± 9.1 and 159 (63.6%) females aged 33± 12.1 years. HBV DNA was detected in 111 (44.4%) but only 58 (52%) of these were typeable. These were classified as genotype A, 8 (7.2%); genotype D, 3 (2.7%) and genotype E, 47 (42.3%). Our results did not show any association between the infecting genotype and age (X2= 0.923; p-value=0.623) or gender (X2= 0.283, p= 0.579).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with similar studies worldwide, the results suggest that genotypes A, D and E were the genotypes circulating among chronic hepatitis B patients who reported to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital with genotype E being the most predominant and therefore constitutes an important public health concern. We recommend further epidemiological studies to understand the implication of genotype E in terms of disease progression and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana.
authors.forename: Anthony Zunuo
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Dongdem
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Mawuli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzodzomenyo
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard Harry
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Asmah
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kofi Mensah
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Priscillia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nortey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Adwoa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agyei
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: David Nana
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kenu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Andrew Anthony
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adjei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Hepatitis B Virus; chronic hepatitis B carriers; hepatitis B genotype