Prevalence, whole genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus in captive orangutan and gibbon

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problem worldwide and apart from infecting humans, HBV has been found in non-human primates. Methods: We subjected 93 non-human primates comprising 12 species to ELISA screening for the serological markers HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc. Subsequently, we detected HBV DNA, sequenced the whole HBV genome and performed phylogenetic analysis. Results: HBV infection was detected in gibbon (4/15) and orangutan (7/ 53). HBV DNA isolates from two gibbons and seven orangutans were chosen for complete genome amplification. We aligned the Pre-S/S, Pre-C/C and entire genomes with HBV sequences and performed phylogenetic analysis. The gibbon and orangutan viruses clustered within their respective groups. Conclusions: Both geographic location and host species influence which HBV variants are found in gibbons and orangutans. Hence, HBV transmission between humans and non-human primates might be a distinct possibility and additional studies will be required to further investigate this potential risk. © 2008 The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.