Hepatitis C, Delta and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Sero-Prevalence in Patients Chronically Infected with Hepatitis B Virus in Cotonou, Benin

Abstract

Infections with hepatitis viruses are known to be prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa but in Benin, data on these infections are still scarce. The study was carried out to assess the burden of these infections in Cotonou. From June to October 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 156 Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infected patients attending the University Teaching Hospital and a private hospital in Cotonou. For each patient, HBV viral load measurement and Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) serology tests were performed using standard methods. The median HBV viral load was 557.5 UI/mL and HDV, HCV and HIV sero-prevalence rates were 3.9%, 1.3% and 0.7% respectively. In conclusion, in HBV infected patients in Cotonou, the sero-prevalence rates of HDV, HCV and HIV were relatively low. A national prevalence survey is needed to assess the epidemiology of these infections in the country.