Seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis D antibodies in hepatitis B virus infected patients in Benghazi, Libya

Hepatitis D virus [HDV] infection is considered to be high in the Mediterranean basin. Data regarding this infection in Libyan population are scarce. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HDV antibodies in hepatitis B virus [HBV] infected patients in Benghazi. The study population comprised one hundred thirty-eight patients with chronic HBV infection who were attending the liver clinic, Aljamahiriya Teaching Hospital, Benghazi. The diagnosis of HBV infection in those patients was based on repeatedly positive HBsAg in the serum with other laboratory and / or radiologic features of liver disease. All patients were tested for the presence of Anti-HDV IgM antibodies and Anti-HDV IgG antibodies using ELISA techniques. At the same time the level of HBV-DNA was measured using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] techniques for both Anti-HDV antibodies positive and negative patients. Fifteen patients were positive for anti-HDV IgG antibodies [10.8%] and none was positive for Anti-HDV IgM antibodies [0%]. The HBV-DNA levels were higher in HBV patients with Anti-HDV antibodies than in patients positive for Anti:HDV Anti- HDV antibodies [P=0.01]. HDV infection does not appear to be commonly prevalent in Libyan patients with HBV. In comparison to data from previous results from Mediterranean area, the seroprevalence of HDV in Libyan patients who were attending the liver clinic, Benghazi is considered to be intermediate

Serological profiles for HBV, HDV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 in Saudi patients with a malignancy.

Serologic markers for HBV, HDV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 were tested in 42 patients with a primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC); 19 with a malignancy of epithelial origin (EPM) and 16 with a non-epithelial malignancy (NEPM) in the Gizan Area of Saudi Arabia. HBV exposure in 77 PHC, EPM and NEPM patients was 92.2 per cent for any marker (overall) while 75.3 per cent positive for HBsAg. 3.9 per cent positive for anti-HBc and 12.9 per cent positive for anti-HBs. There was no inter PHC, EPM, NEPM or intersex variation for an individual marker or total HBV exposure. Among HBsAg-positives, 9 of the 12 PHC tested, 7 of the 10 EPM, 1 of the 9 NEPM were anti-D IgG positive. The HDV prevalence was the lowest in NEPM (p < 0.01). In patients with a malignancy, all HBV and HDV markers were higher than those of control population, even though anti-HBs was lower (p < 0.001). The probable contribution through different viruses in pathogenesis of malignancies of different types should be ascertained through polymerase chain reaction for viral components, oncogenes, etc. on tumourous biopsy tissues. The aggravation in PHC morbidity in HBV hyperendemic foci through HIV infection should be monitored through tests for unintegrated and integrated viral DNA in tumorous and non-tumorous tissues.