Hepatitis D diagnostics:Utilization and testing in the United States.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection may accompany acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. While HDV infection in the United States is thought to be uncommon, there are limited data regarding frequency of testing, and prevalence of HDV antibody and HDV RNA. We evaluated the use of HDV antibody testing using electronic medical record (EMR) data. Among 1007 HBsAg positive patients, only 121 had been tested for HDV antibody. Testing was performed primarily by gastroenterologists/hepatologists and limited testing was performed in identifiable high risk groups including those with HBV/HIV coinfection. Overall, HDV antibody was detected in 3.3% (95% C.I. = 0.9%-8.2%) An HDV RNA assay was developed and validated and 138 HBV or HBV/HIV coinfected patients were tested. The prevalence of HDV among the HBV/HIV coinfected subjects was 2.2% (95% C.I. = 0-5.3%). In a U.S. Midwestern population of HBV infected patients, HDV testing is under-employed. Overall prevalence exceeds 2% whether testing by antibody or HDV RNA and more comprehensive HDV surveillance may be indicated.

Safaie P ，Razeghi S ，Rouster SD ，Privitera I ，Sherman KE ... -  《-》

Characterization of hepatitis B and delta coinfection in Israel.

Shirazi R ，Ram D ，Rakovsky A ，Bucris E ，Gozlan Y ，Lustig Y ，Shaked-Mishan P ，Picard O ，Shemer-Avni Y ，Ben-Zvi H ，Halutz O ，Lurie Y ，Veizman E ，Carlebach M ，Braun M ，Naftaly MC ，Shlomai A ，Safadi R ，Mendelson E ，Sklan EH ，Ben-Ari Z ，Mor O ... -  《BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES》

Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis D virus Coinfection in Western Burkina Faso and molecular characterization of the detected virus strains.

In this study, we monitored the seroprevalence of HBV-HDV co-infection in different population groups in the Western part of Burkina Faso, and described the genetic diversity of the detected virus strains. Between October 2013 and December 2014, venous blood samples were collected from different cohorts (blood donors, pregnant women, outpatients) in the western region of Burkina Faso. Samples were tested for HBsAg and total anti-HDV antibodies. Positive samples were further analysed for HBV-DNA and HDV-RNA. Genotyping of the detected virus strains was done by nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 841 participants were included in this study. The mean age was 27.45 years (range: 7-89 years). HBsAg was found in 117 (13.9%) participants. Of the HBsAg positive samples, 4 (3.4%) were positive for total anti-HDV antibodies and negative for HDV RNA. Phylogenetic analyses based on the HBV complete genome (n=10) and S fragment sequences (n=35) showed that all strains belonged to genotype E. Our study showed a high HBsAg prevalence, but a low rate of HDV co-infection in HBsAg carriers from western Burkina Faso. The predominance of HBV genotype E in the country was confirmed. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the burden of HBV and HDV infection in western Burkina Faso.

Sanou AM ，Benkirane K ，Tinto B ，Cissé A ，Sagna T ，Ilboudo AK ，Dording C ，Tarnagda Z ，Muller CP ，Hübschen JM ... -  《-》

Hepatitis delta-associated mortality in HIV/HBV-coinfected patients.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection accelerates the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease. We assessed the epidemiological characteristics of HDV infection in the nationwide Swiss HIV Cohort Study and evaluated its impact on clinical outcomes. All HIV-infected patients with a positive hepatitis B surface antigen test were considered and tested for anti-HDV antibodies. HDV amplification and sequencing were performed in anti-HDV-positive patients. Demographic and clinical characteristics at initiation of antiretroviral therapy, as well as causes of death were compared between HDV-positive and HDV-negative individuals using descriptive statistics. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between HDV infection and overall mortality, liver-related mortality as well as incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of 818 patients with a positive hepatitis B surface antigen tests, 771 (94%) had a stored serum sample available and were included. The prevalence of HDV infection was 15.4% (119/771, 95% CI: 12.9-18.0) and the proportion of HDV-positive patients with HDV replication 62.9% (73/116). HDV-infected patients were more likely to be persons who inject drugs (60.6% vs. 9.1%) and to have a positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) serology (73.1% vs. 17.8%) compared to HDV-uninfected ones. HDV infection was strongly associated with overall death (adjusted hazard ratio 2.33, 95% CI 1.41-3.84), liver-related death (7.71, 3.13-18.97) and with the occurrence of HCC (9.30, 3.03-28.61). Results were similar when persons who inject drugs or HCV-coinfected patients were excluded from the analyses. The prevalence of HDV in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) is high and HDV infection is independently associated with mortality and liver-related events, including HCC. Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection accelerates the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease. In a nationwide cohort of HIV-infected individuals in Switzerland, 15% of HBV-coinfected patients had antibodies to HDV infection, of which a majority had active HDV replication. HDV-infected individuals were 2.5 times more likely to die, eight times more likely to die from a liver-related cause and nine times more likely to develop liver cancer compared to HDV-uninfected ones. Our results emphasize the need for prevention programs (including HBV vaccination), the systematic screening of at risk populations as well as close monitoring, and underline the importance of developing new treatments for chronic HDV infection.

Béguelin C ，Moradpour D ，Sahli R ，Suter-Riniker F ，Lüthi A ，Cavassini M ，Günthard HF ，Battegay M ，Bernasconi E ，Schmid P ，Calmy A ，Braun DL ，Furrer H ，Rauch A ，Wandeler G ，Swiss HIV Cohort Study ... -  《-》

Prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis B and D virus infections among HIV-positive individuals in Southwestern Nigeria.

Opaleye OO ，Akanbi OA ，Osundare FA ，Wang B ，Adesina O ，Oluremi AS ，Sunday ST ，Akindele AA ，Klink P ，Bock CT ... -  《Virology Journal》