High prevalence of hepatitis delta virus in Cameroon

Abstract

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), a satellite virus of hepatitis B virus (HBV), infects an estimated 15–20 million people worldwide and confers a greater risk for accelerated progression to liver disease. However, limited HDV surveillance data are available in sub-Saharan Africa where HDV diversity is high. To determine the prevalence and diversity of HDV in Cameroon, serological and molecular characterization was performed on 1928 HBsAg positive specimens selected from retrospective viral surveillance studies conducted in Cameroon from 2010–2016. Samples were screened for HDV antibodies on the Abbott ARCHITECT instrument and for HDV RNA on the Abbott m2000 instrument by research assays. HDV positive specimens with sufficient viral load were selected for genomic sequencing. The seroprevalence of HDV in HBsAg positive samples from Cameroon was 46.73% [95% CI; 44.51–48.96%], with prevalence of active HDV infection being 34.2% [95% CI; 32.09–36.41%]. HDV genotypes 1, 6, 7 and 8 were identified amongst N = 211 sequences, including N = 145 genomes. HDV prevalence is high within the study cohort, indicating that a large portion of HBV infected individuals in Cameroon are at elevated risk for severe hepatitis and death. Collectively, these results emphasize the need for HBV vaccination and HDV testing in HBsAg positive patients in Cameroon.

Virological response of hepatitis Delta infection to treatment with Pegylated Interferon alpha 2a in a high prevalence country

“…The mean age in our study was 36.33 ± 10.9 years. It is similar to that found by Butler et al in 2018 [2] and Luma et al in 2017 [23]; this average age is the same as that found in HBV patients in Cameroon [24]. The male predominance found in this work is the same as that found by Stockdale et al in 2017 [25] in London and Luma et al in Cameroon in 2017 [23].…”

“…In 2018, about 15 to 20 million people was concerned according to the Word Health Organization (WHO) [1]. In Cameroon, the prevalence of HDV infection is about 11.01% [2]. B-Delta co-infection causes complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) more rapidly [3].…”

The epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus infection in Cameroon

“…With a large representative sample of the adult population of Cameroon, this study revealed an extreme degree of heterogeneity of HDV distribution across Cameroon, ranging from 1% to 54% according to regions, with the highest prevalence found in the Southern regions close to the Equator. While we did not attempt to detect HDV RNA in our dried blood samples, we believe that around two-thirds of them would be positive for HDV RNA as was observed in similar populations of Cameroon and the Central African Republic 22–24. With 224 HDV-seropositive individuals out of 1621 at risk, our study also provides one of the most complete description of risk factors for HDV infection in Africa.…”

Hepatitis B virus seroepidemiology data for Africa: Modelling intervention strategies based on a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Thus, the effectiveness of catch-up is expected to be greater in low-prevalence populations. For this reason, catch-up will frequently not be a prudent use of resources, although in some settings there may be cost benefits in targeting young populations [41], and vaccination may be even more important in regions where hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection is highly prevalent [42].…”