Genetic variation among hepatitis B and related viruses.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) of man has several characteristics that distinguish it from viruses of other groups. These include its ultrastructure, viral DNA size and structure, a virion DNA polymerase which repairs a single-stranded region in the viral DNA, liver tropism, character of persistent infection, and association with hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently three other viruses have been found in other animal species that appear to share these characteristics although the viruses are not identical. HBV, Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), ground squirrel hepatitis virus (GSHV), and duck hepatitis virus (DHV) appear to be members of a new virus group that might be designated the Hepadna virus group. Genetic variation among hepatitis B viruses includes the antigenic variation in the surface antigen (HBsAg) which constitutes the known HBsAg subtypes. There is also frequent variation in DNA base sequence among HBVs isolated from different patients.