Fifty-three HBV-DNA-positive patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis B were enrolled from 1999 to 2010 to evaluate molecular and phylogenetic changes in HBV in southern Italy. HBV polymerase region was evaluated by direct sequencing in plasma samples obtained at first observation. Different data sets were aligned and a phylogenetic tree was inferred using PhyML program. Statistical robustness was confirmed with a bootstrap analysis. A Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method and a Bayesian skyline plot were used to estimate the evolution of our samples. The dN/dS rate (ω) was estimated by the maximum likelihood approach to investigate the presence of codons under positive selection. The MacClade program was used to test viral gene out/in flow only among HBV-D3 subgenotype patients with different risk factors. Of the 53 patients, 83% were born in Italy and 17% were foreigners. HBV genotype D was prevalent (64.1%), followed by genotype A (26.4%), E (3.8%), and F (5.7%). The prevalent subgenotype was D3 (70.6%). The Bayesian tree of the 24 D3 subgenotypes showed two main clades both dated 1994; 40% of viral gene flow observed was from intravenous drugs users and heterosexual patients. Phylogenetic analysis of HBV isolates showed that HBV-D3 remains the prevalent genotype, but also subgenotype A2 has become frequent in southern Italy. This may be of clinical relevance in years to come, since patients with HBV-genotype-A chronic infection less frequently than those with genotype D develop HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis and respond more frequently to alfa-interferon treatment.
Keywords: HBV molecular epidemiology; HBV phylogenetic analysis; acute hepatitis B; epidemiology of acute hepatitis B.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.