High prevalence of delta virus infection in Thai intravenous drug abusers.
The prevalence of antibodies to delta virus (anti-delta) in the selected groups of hepatitis B surface antigenemia population was investigated. The subjects were 84 intravenous drug abusers; 20 chronic hepatitis, 12 cirrhosis, 6 primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 46 asymptomatic healthy carriers. Anti-delta was detected in 65.48% of intravenous drug abusers, 11.11% of chronic active hepatitis and 8.33% of cirrhosis cases. None of asymptomatic carriers had anti-delta. In addition, 51 acute icteric hepatitis B patients who were positive for HBs Ag and 20 IV drug abusers positive for anti-HBc only (HBsAg and anti-HBs negative) were negative for anti-delta.
Louisirirotchanakul
S
S
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wasi
C
C
Uneklabh
C
C
Phutiprawan
T
T
Suwanagool
S
S
Chainuvati
T
T
Thongcharoen
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D013785:Thailand
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens