Defining the Delta Virus Positivity in Hepatitis B Virus Infections

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the frequency of anti-hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV) antibody in hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive cases. Materials and Methods: Anti-HDV and anti-hepatitis B virus core antigen (anti-HBc) IgM seropositivity was researched using ELISA method in patients who attended the clinical microbiology laboratory at Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty Hospital between August 2005 and August 2010 and were determined to be positive for HBsAg. Results: A total of 2314 HBsAg-positive patients were included in this study. Anti-HDV positivity was detected in 36 (1.56%) of them. By taking the anti-HBc IgM seropositivity as reference, among patients who had positive delta antibody, 33 (91.67%) subjects were evaluated as "super-infection" and 3 (8.33%) patients were evaluated as "co-infection". Conclusion: Although anti-HDV positivity in our region is relatively lower than in the other regions, emphasis should be given to the prevention and monitoring researches due to the high level of mortality and morbidity of the illness.