Identification of Hepatitis B virus genotypes by PCR-RFLP method for reducing treatment cost in patients at the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital

Aims: Hepatitis B is a common disease worldwide, especially in Vietnam.Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is currently classified into ten genotypes (A-J) based on complete nucleotide sequences.The present study aimed at using restriction enzymes to identify the HBV genotypes. Methodology and results:The study surveyed 99 hepatitis virus DNA samples of patients who came to the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital by PCR technique of the S gene region combined with restriction enzyme compared with genotyping by sequencing.The results of determining the hepatitis virus B genotype account for 72.7%; genotype C (26.3%) and genotype B+C co-infection were 1%.The BsrI enzyme digested the S gene region of B genotype into two bands with the sizes of 459 bp and 126 bp, while the StyI enzyme cleaved S gene product and created 2 specific bands of 253 bp and 332 bp, identified as genotype C. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Enzyme BsrI and StyI help to determine genotype B and genotype C when using S gene region cutting with high accuracy (100%).Genotypes B and C account for a high frequency in Vietnam in general and the Southwest region in particular.Using restriction enzymes to identify these two genotypes can help effectively treat and reduce costs for hepatitis patients.