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Predominance of hepatitis B virus genotype C among Karens, the ‘old settlers’ of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

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Summary.

The Karens, or ‘old settlers’, migrated from Myanmar to Andaman and Nicobar islands 80 years ago. A high HBV exposure rate among them has been reported. A study of 34 HBsAg carriers was done to investigate the origin of HBV infection among the Karens. RFLP-based genotyping was confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The predominance of HBV/C1/Cs suggests that they carried HBV during their migration, retained it, and in addition, acquired HBV/D2 from the people of mainland India. The reported association of HBV genotype C with disease severity thus warrants further epidemiological investigations among them and on possible spread among neighboring settlers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICMR Virus Unit, Kolkata

    S. Datta, P. K. Chandra, A. Banerjee & R. Chakravarty

  2. Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

    K. M. Murhekar & M. V. Murhekar

  3. ID & BG Hospital Campus, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    S. Datta, P. K. Chandra, A. Banerjee & R. Chakravarty

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  1. S. Datta
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  2. P. K. Chandra
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  3. A. Banerjee
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  4. R. Chakravarty
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  5. K. M. Murhekar
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  6. M. V. Murhekar
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Datta, S., Chandra, P., Banerjee, A. et al. Predominance of hepatitis B virus genotype C among Karens, the ‘old settlers’ of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Arch Virol 152, 1223–1228 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-006-0910-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-006-0910-0

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