Genotype characterization of hepatitis B virus infection in the province of La Rioja

Abstract

The genetic variability is a characteristic common in all the virus. The virus of the B hepatitis (VHB) is a virus DNA with a variability that oscillates in a change by each 1,000 to 100,000 nucleotides incorporated by each replicativo cycle. This genetic variability must to errors of the repairing activity of enzymes in charge of this process, transcriptasas inverse, during the process of viral replication. At present, the viral stocks of the VHB are classified in 8 genotypes designated with the letters A-H, each genotype has a differentiated prevalence very world-wide. In the present work the circulating genotypes in the city of La Rioja (150 samples) by means of the RFLP technique.We found up to 94% of cases, genotype F, which was described as originating in Amerindian communities in Central and South America. This prevalence may be because in the city of La Rioja be recorded genetic ancestors originated.