Acute hepatitis A virus infection in Turkey

✍ Scribed by Andrea Normann; Selim Badur; Derya Önel; Ayse Kilic; Müjgan Sidal; Bernard Larouzé; Veronique Massari; Julia Müller; Bertram Flehmig

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 105 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21137

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Anti‐HAV IgM positive serum samples from acute phase hepatitis A patients from various areas in Turkey were tested for viral RNA by RT‐PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), using primer pairs from two different regions of the HAV genome. The PCR products amplified from both genomic regions underwent phylogenetic analyses. A comparison of the regions showed the same genotyping results, and the RT‐PCR‐2 in the 5′NCR demonstrated greater sensitivity compared to RT‐PCR‐1 in the VP1‐P2A region. The majority of the isolates belonged to genotype IB and are related closely to each other; however, two isolates related even more strongly to the HAV HM175 strain. Two (n = 37) RT‐PCR positive sera were classified under genotype IA. A surprising finding emerged for the mean levels of serum transaminases AST and ALT: higher levels were found in patients under 10 years of age compared to older patients. Anti‐HAV IgM levels were determined quantitatively and, in addition, the HAV‐RNA genome equivalents were ascertained by real time RT‐PCR. No evidence was found for an association between viral load and the higher transaminase levels in the younger group. J. Med. Virol. 80:785–790, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.