Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes and its clinical significance in Guangxi

Objective To understand the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Guangxi and its clinical significance Methods Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA in sera of asymptomatic carrier (ASC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and patients with different liver diseases from southern and northern Guangxi Specimens from 161 subjects were positive for HBV DNA and HBV genotype was determined by using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, direct sequencing or cloning sequencing Results The prevalence of genotype A was 3 7% in all samples and that of genotype B, C and D was 21 7%,72 7% and 1 2%, respectively No other genotypes (such as genotype E, F, G, H) were found The prevalence of genotype C showed an increasing trend in ASC,chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) group; in contrast, the prevalence of genotype B showed an opposite trend, although no statistically significant difference was observed, except between ASC and HCC ( P =0 05) The HBeAg positive rate was higher, and the anti HBe positive rate was lower in patients with chronic genotype C infection than in those with genotype B ( P 0 05 for both) Liver function test (ALT) abnormality was more severe in genotype C group than in genotypes A and B groups having acute or chronic infection ( P 0 01 for all comparisons) The prevalence of genotype C in southern Guangxi was higher than that in northern Guangxi In contrast, the prevalence of genotype B in southern Guangxi was lower than that in northern Guangxi Conclusion ① The predominant HBV genotypes in Guangxi were genotypes B and C The major genotype in southern Guangxi was genotype C; while that in northern Guangxi was genotype B, which implied that the distribution of HBV genotype C was cinsistent with the incidence of HCC in Guangxi ② Genotype C maybe associated withdevelopment of severe liver diseases including HCC ③Genotype A,D and B+C were mostly found in acute, hepatitis and chronic hepatitis group