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Anti-delta antibody in various HBsAg positive Argentine populations
Insights
Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection is rare in Argentinian blood donors and patients with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-related liver disease. Further research is needed to understand the prevalence of HDV markers in these populations.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects millions globally, with some carriers developing chronic liver disease.
- Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is a unique satellite virus that requires HBV for replication, potentially worsening liver disease outcomes.
- Understanding HDV prevalence is crucial for managing HBV-infected populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anti-Hepatitis Delta virus (anti-HDV) antibodies and Hepatitis Delta antigen in HBsAg carriers in Argentina.
- To investigate the association between HDV infection and different liver disease types (acute hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis).
- To analyze Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe status in HDV-infected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 1517 HBsAg carriers (1168 blood donors, 349 liver disease patients) across Argentina were tested for anti-HDV antibodies.
- Liver disease diagnoses were confirmed using clinical, biochemical, and histological assessments.
- Hepatitis Delta antigen detection in hepatocyte nuclei was performed in relevant cases.
- HBeAg and anti-HBe status was evaluated in anti-HDV positive samples.
Main Results:
- Anti-HDV antibodies were detected in 1.4% of blood donors and in 0.77% to 5.77% of patients with various liver diseases.
- Hepatitis Delta antigen was detected in the liver cells of some patients with cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis.
- HBeAg and anti-HBe profiles varied among HDV-infected individuals, with a higher prevalence of anti-HBe in blood donors.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis Delta virus infection appears to be uncommon among HBsAg carriers in Argentina, including both blood donors and patients with liver disease.
- Geographical variations in HDV prevalence were minimal and not statistically significant.
- The findings suggest a low burden of HDV co-infection in the studied Argentinian population.
Abstract:
One thousand five hundred and seventeen HBsAg carriers from different cities of Argentina were studied for the presence of anti-Delta antibody (anti-HDV) in their sera. One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight were volunteer blood donors and 349 were patients with liver disease. Different liver diseases were diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, and histological parameters. Among blood donors, 16 (1.4%) were positive for the antibody and none was Delta-antigen positive. In 130 patients with acute hepatitis, one (0.77%) was positive for anti-HDV, as well as three (2.22%) out of 135 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and three (5.77%) out of 52 patients with cirrhosis (C). No anti-HDV positive was found among seven fulminant hepatitis (FH) cases. The presence of HBeAg and anti-HBe was studied in anti-HDV positive sera; eleven (69%) volunteer blood donors were anti-HBe positive, and five (31%) were HBeAg positive. HBeAg was positive in the three CAH cases, and in one out of three C Cases with anti-HDV positive. Hepatitis Delta antigen was also positive in the hepatocytic nuclei in the three patients with C and two of the three CAH cases. The present results show that Delta infection is rare among blood donors in Argentina. A small variation without statistical significance could be found within different geographical areas. Among patients with HBsAg related liver disease, the presence of HDV markers was also low.