Seroprevalence of serum HBsAg positivity and hepatitis delta virus infection among blood donors in Southeastern Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
HBV and HDV infection is still a serious health problem in Southeastern Turkey. In this study, we aim to investigate the prevalence serum HBsAg along with HDV infection among volunteer blood donors.


METHODS
This single centre and prospective study was performed in 6200 consecutive volunteer blood donors admitted to the Central Blood Bank of Dicle University Hospital. All adult blood donors included males and females were screened for HBsAg positivity. The positive serum samples for HBsAg were assessed for total anti-delta antibodies using the micro-ELISA method. Serum samples of anti-delta antibody positive cases were then examined for the presence of serum HDV RNA by real time, reverse transcription PCR method.


RESULTS
Six thousand two hundred adult volunteer blood donors were enrolled to the study. Of all analyzed blood donors, 6004 (96.8%) were men and 196 (3.2%) were women. Serum HBsAg positivity was found in 3% (186/6200) of 6200 blood donors. The mean age and female/male ratio of HBsAg positive cases (n=186) were 32.85±10.04 years and 12/174, respectively. Serum anti-delta antibodies were detected in 6.98% (13/186) of HBsAg positive cases. The mean age of anti-delta antibody positive cases (n=13) was 44.5±13.61 years and female/male ratio was 1/12. Moreover, 2 cases, (15.39%, 2/13) that were positive for anti-delta antibody, had serum HDV RNA positivity.


CONCLUSIONS
It would be appropriate for HBsAg positive volunteer blood donors to be assessed regarding concurrent HDV infection as well. The magnitude of the contribution and benefit that this screening would provide to our region, which is endemic for HDV infection, is the early diagnosis and management of this devastating disease. The real viremia in these cases can be best shown by using sensitive real time PCR method for the presence of serum HDV RNA.
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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Mese
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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Nergiz
Departments of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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Tekes
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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Gul
D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens