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Geographic distribution and characteristics of genotype A hepatitis B virus infection in acute and chronic hepatitis B patients in Japan
Author(s) -
Ito Kiyoaki,
Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi,
Sugiyama Masaya,
Yatsuhashi Hiroshi,
Karino Yoshiyasu,
Takikawa Yasuhiro,
Saito Takafumi,
Arase Yasuji,
Imazeki Fumio,
Kurosaki Masayuki,
Umemura Takeji,
Ichida Takafumi,
Toyoda Hidenori,
Yoneda Masashi,
Tanaka Yasuhito,
Mita Eiji,
Yamamoto Kazuhide,
Michitaka Kojiro,
Maeshiro Tatsuji,
Tanuma Junko,
Korenaga Masaaki,
Murata Kazumoto,
Masaki Naohiko,
Koike Kazuhiko,
Mizokami Masashi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.13030
Subject(s) - genotype , medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis b virus , cirrhosis , virology , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis b , virus , immunology , gene , biology , genetics
Background and Aims The prevalence of sexually transmitted acute infections of the genotype A hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been increasing in Japan. Genotype A HBV is associated with an increased risk of HBV progression to chronic infection after acute hepatitis B (AHB) in adults. A nationwide survey was conducted to evaluate the geographic distribution, clinical, and virologic characteristics of genotype A AHB and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Japan. Methods Five hundred seventy AHB patients were recruited between 2005 and 2010, and 3682 CHB patients were recruited between 2010 and 2011. HBV genotypes were determined for 552 and 3619 AHB and CHB patients, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared among different genotypes in AHB and CHB patients. Genomic characteristics of HBV genotype A were examined by molecular evolutionary analysis. Results Hepatitis B virus genotype A was the predominant genotype for AHB between 2005 and 2010. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all strains in the AHB patients with genotype A were classified into subtype Ae. Among CHB patients, the occurrence of genotype A was 4.1%, and genotype A was spreading in young adults. In genotype A CHB patients, early stage liver diseases were predominant, although liver diseases progressed to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in some patients. Conclusions The distribution of HBV genotypes is quite different between AHB and CHB in Japanese patients. Genotype A infection is spreading in young adults of Japanese CHB patients. Sequences derived from Japanese AHB patients were identical to or closely resembled the sequences derived from other Japanese AHB patients.