Genotyping the hepatitis B virus with a fragment of the HBV DNA polymerase gene in Shenyang, China
2011

Genotyping Hepatitis B Virus in Shenyang, China

Sample size: 50 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ma Ying, Ding Yang, Juan Feng, Dou Xiao Guang

Primary Institution: Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University

Hypothesis

Can a new genotyping strategy based on a fragment of the HBV DNA polymerase gene effectively identify HBV genotypes in Shenyang, China?

Conclusion

The new genotyping method is valid and identifies genotype C as the dominant genotype in Shenyang, China.

Supporting Evidence

  • The new genotyping method identified only genotypes B, C, and D in the 50 cases.
  • Genotype C was found to be the dominant genotype, present in 25 cases (50%).
  • The study confirmed that the semi-nested PCR products had intergenotypic divergence consistent with known HBV genotypes.

Takeaway

Researchers found a new way to tell which type of hepatitis B virus people have, and they discovered that most people in their study had type C.

Methodology

The study used semi-nested PCR to amplify a fragment of the HBV DNA polymerase gene from serum samples of patients.

Limitations

The study only included patients from Shenyang, China, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

33 patients with chronic hepatitis B (22 males, 11 females, mean age 31.79 years) and 20 asymptomatic carriers (12 males, 8 females, mean age 29.5 years).

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.000

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1743-422X-8-315

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