Molecular and Clinical Characterization of Hepatitis A Virus in Gwangju and Jeonnam Province.
10.4166/kjg.2011.57.6.346
- Author:
Du Young NOH
1
;
Sung Bum CHO
;
Yeon Joo KIM
;
Wan Sik LEE
;
Chang Hwan PARK
;
Young Eun JOO
;
Hyen Soo KIM
;
Jong Sun REW
;
Sung Kyu CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. choisk@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis A virus;
Genotype;
Epidemiology
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2011;57(6):346-351
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dominant genotype of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Korea had been known to be genotype 1A in 1990s. Recently, the epidemiologic change of HAV genotype was reported with an upsurge of acute hepatitis A in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of HAV genotypes and clinical characteristics in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. METHODS: From November 2008 to October 2009, a total of 82 patients with acute hepatitis A were enrolled prospectively. HAV genotype was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the PCR products of VP1/2A region of HAV. RESULTS: HAV RNA was detected in 82% (67/82). The genotype IIIA (88%, 59 cases) was significantly more frequent than genotype IA (12%, 8 cases) (p< or =0.01). The subtypes of genotype IIIA were AJ299467 Norway (49%), HA-JNG04-09 Japan (27%), HS-14-12-00 Spain (22%) and H-122 Sweden (2%). The subtypes of IA were FH1 Japan (50%) and HA J04-3 Japan (50%). The substitutions of amino acid were more frequent in genotype IIIA than IA (p< or =0.01). There was no difference in the clinical characteristics between the patients with genotype IIIA and IA. CONCLUSIONS: Genotype IIIA was a dominant genotype of recent HAV infection in Gwangju and Jeonnam province. This study provides valuable epidemiologic information of genetic distributions of HAV in Korea.
