title: Prevalence of hepatitis d virus infection among hepatitis B virus infected patients in qom province, center of iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that depends on the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus for its replication, developing exclusively in patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B. There are little data regarding the routes of HDV transmission in Iran. The risk factors for HDV infection in Iran are blood transfusion, surgery, family history, Hejamat wet cupping (traditional phlebotomy), tattooing, war injury, dental interventions, and endoscopy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed this study to determine the prevalence of hepatitis D in the general population of Qom province and the potential risk factors for acquiring HDV.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study collected 3690 samples from 7 rural clusters and 116 urban clusters. HBs antigen was measured, and if the test was positive, anti-HDV was measured. Ten teams, each consisting of 2 trained members, were assigned to conduct the sampling and administer the questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight subjects (1.3%) suffered from hepatitis B, and 1 HBsAg-positive case had HDV infection. The prevalence of hepatitis D infection in Qom Province was 0.03%. The prevalence of hepatitis D infection in HBsAg-positive cases was 2%. Our anti-HDV-positive case had a history of tattooing, surgery, and dental surgery. There was no significant relationship between tattooing, surgery history, or dental surgery and hepatitis D infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of hepatitis D in Qom is the the lowest in Iran, similar to a study in Babol (north of Iran).
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ghadir
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belbasi
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.forename: Seyed Saeid
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sarkeshikian
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabiri
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ghanooni
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iranikhah
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaez-Javadi
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian