Epidemiological study of genotypes of hepatitis B virus in northern Portugal

Abstract

While the overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Portugal is around 1%, there are no published studies examining HBV genotypes in this country. This study aimed to survey HBV genotypes in the northern Portugal and to examine the possible associations between genotypes and gender, viral transmission routes, viral markers, viral load, and biochemical tests of liver function. The study sample consists of 340 patients with HBV infection of whom 42.9% were women. Tests were carried out for HBV genotypes and biochemical liver function while demographic information, including alcohol intake, was obtained from the patient files. The results indicate the predominance of genotype D (60.3%) and genotype A (31.5%). Intrafamilial transmission was predominant in female patients, while males were infected in equal proportions by perinatal, sexual, and intrafamilial transmission. Absence of HBeAg was found in a significantly smaller proportion of female patients with genotype D as compared to A (56.6% vs. 82.1%, P = 0.028). High viral load was associated significantly and independently with genotype D and HBeAg. Both alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST) were associated with gender and HBeAg. Thus, genotypes A and D were found to be the most prevalent in the north of Portugal. Patients infected with genotype D had higher levels of HBV DNA. HBeAg was associated with genotype D, viral load, and ALT and AST.

Perfil epidemiológico e genotípico da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B no Norte de Portugal

“…1,5 Verschuere et al 23 report that the predominant subtypes in Europe are genotypes A and D. This is true also for Portugal, especially in the Northern region of the country. 14,15 In countries where endemicity is low, and in age groups not covered by mandatory vaccination, sexual transmission is more common among males, whereas intrafamilial transmission seems to predominate among females. 14,22 Vaccination is mandatory for all newborns in Portugal since 2000.…”

“…14,15 In countries where endemicity is low, and in age groups not covered by mandatory vaccination, sexual transmission is more common among males, whereas intrafamilial transmission seems to predominate among females. 14,22 Vaccination is mandatory for all newborns in Portugal since 2000.…”

Molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases in São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal): A hospital-based descriptive study

“…In mainland Portugal, around 1% of the population is infected with HBV [16]. These numbers are not known for the São Miguel Island; however, 46.2% tested positive, with the majority being between 25 to 44 years of age.…”

Avaliação de marcadores de lesão do túbulo proximal renal e incidência de redução da filtração glomerular em pacientes portadores de Hepatite B em uso de tenofovir

“…A predominância do sexo masculino entre os indivíduos com infecção crônica pelo VHB foi previamente descrita em estudos realizados na região de Ribeirão Preto, em diversas regiões do Brasil e do mundo, em proporções semelhantes àquelas encontradas na casuística do presente estudo (Asim et al, 2010, Mota et al, 2009, Chacha et al, 2011, Valente et al, 2005, Pereira et al, 2009. Tal achado, ainda não está totalmente esclarecido, possivelmente possa estar relacionado com as formas de transmissão da infecção, considerando-se as formas de aquisição da infecção que são mais prevalentes entre os indivíduos do sexo masculino, tais como: promiscuidade sexual, uso de drogas injetáveis ilícitas e não ilícitas.…”