Korean J Gastroenterol.  2002 Jul;40(1):46-52.

Hepatitis B Virus Genotype in Kyunggi and Seoul Provinces

• Oh SW
• Hwang SG
• Ko KH
• Jung EM
• Kim HT
• Hong SP
• Park PW
• Rim GS
• Kim NG
• Hyun WS
• Lee TK

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is classified into 7 genotypes (A-G). Simple HBV genotyping system using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the S gene region is cost effective compared to the classification by molecular phylogenetic analysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of HBV genotypes in Kyunggi and Seoul provinces.
METHODS
From 1999 to 2000, a total of 67 serum specimens were obtained from HBsAg positive patients in Kyunggi and Seoul provinces. HBV DNA was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and HBV genotypes were classified with RFLP method designed by Mizokami (in FEBS Letters 450: 66-71,1999). Serum HBV DNA levels were determined with Hybrid Capture II assay. Sequence of S gene was analyzed in 12 serum specimens.
RESULTS
Of 67 samples, 63 (94.0%) were amplified by the nested PCR. Only one sample (1.6%) simultaneously presented genotype B and C, and all the other 62 samples (98.4%) were genotype C. Among 41 HBV DNA positive cases and 26 HBV DNA negative cases, 39 (95.1%), 24 (92.3%) samples were amplified, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Genotype C is the most predominant HBV genotype in Kyunggi and Seoul provinces of Korea.

Keyword

Hepatitis B virus genotype; Hepatitis B virus; Polymorphism; restriction fragment length; Nested polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Classification
DNA
Genotype
Gyeonggi-do*
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Korea
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Seoul*
DNA
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens