Prevalence of Delta hepatitis virus in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that requires hepatitis B virus (HBV) for replication and is associated with severe liver disease. This study aimed to determine the serological and molecular prevalence of HDV infection and to characterize HDV genotypes among HBsAg-positive individuals in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

A prospective descriptive study was conducted from May to October 2024 at the Immunology Laboratory of JRA UHC. HBsAg-positive patients attending Clinical Department of JRA and JRB UHC who provided informed consent were included.

Among 146 participants (mean age: 32.98 ± 9.53 years; sex ratio: 6.7), anti-HDV antibodies were detected in four patients (2.73%). HDV RNA was identified in three cases (2.05%), all with genotype 1. A male predominance and one case of HDV-HIV co-infection were observed.

This first report of HBV-HDV co-infection in Antananarivo highlights the need for systematic HDV screening in all HBsAg-positive patients.