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Possible widespread presence of hepatitis A virus subgenotype IIIA in Japan: Recent trend of hepatitis A causing acute liver failure
Author(s) -
Miyamura Tatsuo,
Ishii Koji,
Kanda Tatsuo,
Tawada Akinobu,
Sekimoto Tadashi,
Wu Shuang,
Nakamoto Shingo,
Arai Makoto,
Fujiwara Keiichi,
Imazeki Fumio,
Kiyohara Tomoko,
Wakita Takaji,
Yokosuka Osamu
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00919.x
Subject(s) - hepatitis a virus , virology , genotype , acute hepatitis , medicine , phylogenetic tree , nested polymerase chain reaction , hepatitis virus , polymerase chain reaction , hepatitis , virus , biology , gene , genetics
Aim: Recently, the number of acute hepatitis A cases has decreased in Japan. However, six patients with acute liver failure caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) have been admitted to Chiba University Hospital, Japan, in the last 18 months, between 2010 and June 2011. The aim of this study is to characterize the recent HAV genotypes from an urban hospital in Japan and to compare the clinical differences. Methods: Hepatitis A virus RNA was detected by strand‐specific reverse transcription. Then, HAV VP1/2A regions were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequences were directly determined and phylogenetic trees were constructed for determining HAV subgenotypes. Results: Analysis of these HAV genomes revealed that 4 and 2 belonged to subgenotypes IA and IIIA, respectively. Conclusions: Fujiwara et al . reported a frequency of HAV subgenotype IIIA of only 2.1% in Japan. We conclude that HAV subgenotype IIIA might be widespread in our country.