Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
Low prevalence of hepatitis delta infection in Cuban HBsAg carriers: Prospect for elimination
Licel de Los Ángeles Rodríguez Lay1, Zexi Tan1, Maria Caridad Montalvo Villalba1
1National Reference Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Department of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Havana, Cuba.
Insights
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is rare in Cuban carriers, with a prevalence of 0.39%. This low rate, alongside high hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, suggests HDV elimination is feasible in Cuba.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is a severe complication of hepatitis B virus (HBV), leading to rapid cirrhosis and increased mortality.
- Limited data exist on HDV prevalence and characteristics in Cuba.
- Assessing HDV in the Cuban HBV epidemiological context is crucial for elimination strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HDV infection among HBsAg carriers in Cuba.
- To characterize circulating HDV strains.
- To evaluate the feasibility of HDV elimination in Cuba.
Main Methods:
- Tested 502 serum samples from HBsAg carriers (2006-2019) for anti-HDV antibodies.
- Performed Real-Time RT-PCR for HDV-RNA on positive samples.
- Conducted phylogenetic analysis for HDV genotyping.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of anti-HDV antibodies was 0.39% (2/502).
- One active HDV infection case (HDV-RNA positive) presented with compensated liver cirrhosis.
- Phylogenetic analysis identified the HDV strain as genotype 1, similar to global contemporary strains.
Conclusions:
- The very low HDV prevalence in HBsAg carriers is a positive indicator for public health.
- High HBV vaccination coverage in Cuba supports the potential for HDV elimination.
- Sustained HBV control efforts are essential for achieving HDV elimination in Cuba.
Introduction:
Infection with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is one of the most severe hepatitis B virus (HBV) complications, with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatic decompensation and death. Data on HDV infection in Cuba are limited. The aims of our study were to determine the HDV prevalence in HBsAg carriers and to characterize the HDV strains circulating. The data were used to assess the possibility of HDV elimination in the Cuban HBV epidemiological setting.
Methods:
Five hundred and two serum samples from the same number of HBsAg carriers collected in the period 2006-2019 from all over the country were tested for anti-HDV total antibodies. If positive, the samples were analyzed for HDV-RNA using Real-Time RT-PCR targeting the ribozyme and HD antigen domains followed by genotyping based on phylogenetic analysis.
Results:
Two samples were anti-HDV positive [0.39% (95% CI 0.11-1.44)]. One of them was also HDV-RNA positive. Clinically, the patient with active HDV infection had compensated liver cirrhosis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus belonged to genotype 1 and thus clustered with contemporary strains from North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
Discussion:
This is the first HDV study, including molecular detection and virus characterization, done after the introduction of the universal childhood anti-hepatitis B vaccination. The very low prevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg carriers combined with the high HBV vaccination coverage of all newborn children, of previously identified risk groups, and of the general population currently under 40 years of age suggests that HDV elimination is feasible in Cuba if the success in HBV control is maintained.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
01:14Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters