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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2014; 20(24): 7665-7674
Published online Jun 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7665
Hepatitis B virus lineages in mammalian hosts: Potential for bidirectional cross-species transmission
Cibele R Bonvicino, Miguel A Moreira, Marcelo A Soares
Cibele R Bonvicino, Miguel A Moreira, Marcelo A Soares, Genetics Division, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20231-050, Brazil
Cibele R Bonvicino, Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios Silvestres, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil
Marcelo A Soares, Genetics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21949-570, Brazil
Author contributions: Bonvicino CR, Moreira MA and Soares MA conceived the manuscript, compiled literature and wrote the paper.
Supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico of Brazil, No. 303422/2010-6
Correspondence to: Dr. Cibele R Bonvicino, Genetics Division, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, André Cavalcanti 37, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20231-050, Brazil. cibelerb@inca.gov.br
Telephone: +55-21-32076586 Fax: +55-21-32076586
Received: November 1, 2013
Revised: January 30, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: June 28, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious agent affecting humans worldwide. Other HBV-related strains infect mammalian species of primates, rodents and bats, in addition to birds. Evidence of HBV infection in African, Asian and Neotropical primates draws attention to potential cross-species transmission of these viruses to man. Mounting evidence suggests humans may also be a source of viral infection to other mammals, particularly to domestic animals like poultry and swine. We list evidence of HBV and HBV-like infection of nonhuman mammals and discuss their potential roles as donors/recipients of these viruses to humans and to other closely-related species.