Hepatitis D virus seroprevalence in Egyptian HBsAg-positive children: a single-center study

Arch Virol. 2020 Oct;165(10):2361-2365. doi: 10.1007/s00705-020-04757-6. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibodies in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive children after 25 years of obligatory vaccination of infants against hepatitis B virus. This cross-sectional study included 120 treatment-naïve HBsAg-positive children, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1 and a mean age of 7.8 ± 3.8 years (range, 1-17 years). Mothers were positive for HBsAg in 96.6% of the cases. HBeAg-positive chronic infection was observed in 60% of the cases, HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis in 12.5%, and HBeAg-negative chronic infection in 26.7%. Anti-HDV antibodies were not detected in any of the cases. Thus, there is a lack of anti-HDV antibodies in HBsAg-positive children, despite the current burden in adults.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity
  • Hepatitis D, Chronic / blood
  • Hepatitis D, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis D, Chronic / immunology
  • Hepatitis D, Chronic / virology
  • Hepatitis Delta Virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis Delta Virus / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines