Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major causative agents of acute and chronic liver disease worldwide and is believed to be responsible for a million deaths annually. Around 400 million people worldwide carry the virus including 4.5 million only in Pakistan. On the basis of a comparison of complete genomic sequences, HBV has been classified into eight genotypes A-H which show a geographical distribution. Some genotypes are associated with different clinical outcomes. Identification of HBV genotypes is important to begin and follow up the treatment. Very limited research work on HBV genotyping has been done so far in Pakistan and there is a high level of discrepancy and inconsistency among different groups of researchers. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalent genotypes of HBV in Karachi, Pakistan. Samples from different physicians and hepatologists of Karachi were sent to PCR and molecular biology lab., KIRAN for HBV DNA detection by PCR methods. A total of 40 HBV DNA PCR positive samples (30 male and 10 female) were tested for genotyping by two step nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotype D was detected as the most prevalent (92.5 %) genotype followed by mix genotype A & D (7.5 %), no other genotype were found in this limited size of samples.
Muhammad Hanif, Perveen Zaidi, Salman Habib, Muhammad Amir. (2011) STUDY OF GENOTYPES OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS PREVALENT IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, , Volume 08, Issue 4.
