Microbiología Médica y Diagnóstico

Molecular Epidemiological Study of Hepatitis B Virus in the United Arab Emirates Based on the Analysis of Pre-S Gene

Abstract

Mubarak S. Alfaresi

 This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) variant with the pre-S mutant circulating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The sequences of the pre-S and S regions were determined in serum samples of 90 HBV DNA-positive subjects who had been enrolled in the study. The results showed that genotypes D and A accounted for 77.8% and 17.8% respectively. The distribution of the HBV antigen subtypes was: ayw2 (78.9%), adw2 (14.4%), and adw (2.2%). Sequencing analysis showed that pre-S mutations were present in 4 samples (4.4%), with pre-S2 deletion as the most common mutant (50%). The pre-S mutations were associated with older age and a higher mean HBV DNA level. The study demonstrated that HBV genotypes D and A were the predominant strains circulating in the UAE and that the HBV pre-S mutant is very rare in this area, appearing only in genotype C.