Abstract :
Background: Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is a small RNA virus responsible for causing both acute and chronic liver disease in persons infected with Hepatitis B. Chronic HDV infection worsens the preexisting HBV-related liver damage. Several reports mention that Hepatitis B and D frequently occur together and is called co-infection. However, no major study has been done on Hepatitis D in this region. Routine screening is not done for detection of Hepatitis D. Therefore there is insufficient data on its incidence or prevalence in this part of India.
Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and D coinfection in blood donors and hospital patients in East District of Sikkim.
Material and Methods: The one year study was carried out in Central Referral Hospital, Tadong and STNM Hospital (Sir Thutop Namgyal Memorial Hospital), Gangtok in the East district of Sikkim. A total of 64 serum samples positive for Hepatitis B were collected, analysed and screened for the presence of anti-HDV IgG antibody using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [Human hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibody (IgG) ELISA Kit].
Results: Out of 64 samples positive for HBsAg that were analysed one sample (1.6%) was positive for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D co-infection.
Conclusion: Though the incidence of Hepatitis B & D coinfection is low but routine screening of blood donors for Hepatitis D should be done due to substantial risk of severe chronic liver diseases.
Keyword :
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis D, antiHDV IgG antibody, coinfection, blood donors