Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype E carried--even in the presence of high titers of anti-HBs antibodies--by an Argentinean patient of African descent who had received vaccination against HBV.

MATHET VL, CUESTAS ML, RUIZ V, MINASSIAN ML, RIVERO C, TRINKS J, DALEOSO G, LEON LM, SALA A, LIBELLARA B, CORACH D, OUBIÑA JR

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY

American Society for Microbiology

Lugar: Washington, USA.; Año: 2006 vol. 44 p. 3435 - 3439

0095-1137

Genotype E hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected in two Argentine sisters exhibiting an African mitochondrial lineage. One of them (who had been vaccinated against HBV) exhibited anti-HBs cocirculating antibodies without HBsAg escape mutants, while her unvaccinated sister showed a D144A HBsAg escape mutant without anti-HBs antibodies. Both sisters carried an unusual L209V substitution within HBsAg.