Delta infection in chronic HBs Ag carriers in Tunisia: high prevalence in chronic asymptomatic HBs Ag carriers and in HBs Ag positive cirrhosis.
The presence of hepatitis B virus DNA, delta antigen and anti-delta antibodies was examined in 159 Tunisian chronic HBs Ag carriers: 45 were asymptomatic and 114 suffered from cirrhosis. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in two (4.5%) asymptomatic HBs Ag carriers and in 11 (10%) HBs Ag positive cirrhosis patients. The prevalence of HDV infection determined by the presence of anti-delta was relatively high in asymptomatic HBs Ag carriers (33%) and in HBs Ag positive cirrhosis patients (21%). Active ongoing HDV infection, detected by serum HD Ag and anti-delta IgM, was shown in five patients with cirrhosis and active hepatitis B virus replication. We conclude that hepatitis delta virus may be endemic in Tunisia and does not always inhibit hepatitis B virus replication.
Jenhani
F
F
Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunisia.
Ayed
K
K
Gorgi
Y
Y
Zoulim
F
F
Pichoud
C
C
Trepo
C
C
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M