Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis D virus circulating in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections are major public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Whereas it is known that HBV infection is endemic in Nigeria, there is only little data about HDV prevalence available. Here, we assessed the HDV seroprevalence and determined the HDV and HBV genotypes distribution among HBsAg positive individuals in Southwestern Nigeria.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 188 serum samples from HBsAg positive outpatients recruited at four tertiary hospitals in Southwestern Nigeria. Anti-HDV antibodies were detected by ELISA while HDV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR. Sequencing followed by phylogenetic analyses and HBV genotype-specific PCR were used to characterize HDV and HBV genotypes, respectively.ResultsOut of 188 HBsAg positive serum samples, 17 (9 %) showed detectable HDV-RNA. Anti-HDV antibodies test was possible from 103 samples and were observed in 4.9 % (5/103) patients. There was no significant difference in HDV prevalence between four main cities across the country. 64.7 % of HDV-RNA positive samples were from males and 35.3 % from females (P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed with regard to HDV seroprevalence and available demographic factors. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated a predominance of HDV genotype 1 and HBV genotype E among the HDV-RNA/HBsAg positive patients.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our study showed a high prevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg carriers and the predominance of HDV genotype 1 infection in Nigerian HBV endemic region. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the relevance of HDV/HBV co-infection and circulating genotypes.

Exploratory study of hepatitis D virus infection in HBsAg carriers in Abidjan, Cte Divoire in 2016

“…This result is lower than the results of other studies conducted in Bangladesh (24.4%) and those conducted by Seetlani et al (2009). It is higher than the results of Nwokediuko and Ijeoma (2009) and Opaleye et al (2016) with 12.5% in Nigeria and similar to Darwish et al (1992), with 23.53%. This high prevalence rate was found again; the HDV virus being an RNA virus, with its great capacity of heterogeneity during these replications, as shown by the works of Lin et al (2017) in Taiwan could explain the therapeutic failures observed in patients on ARVs.…”

Prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our search returned 374 records, 30 of which met the inclusion criteria ( figure 1 ). The 30 studies described 40 populations from 15 countries: 23 cohorts from eight west African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Senegal), 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ten cohorts from three central African countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon), 18 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 and seven cohorts from four east or southern African countries (Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania; figure 2 ; table ). 19 , 44 , 45 , 46 We added data from previously characterised cohorts co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B virus infection in Malawi and Ghana ( appendix ).…”

“…Patients were recruited in various settings: through community surveys, 33 , 34 , 40 via blood donation, 25 , 30 , 31 , 34 , 45 in antenatal care, 19 , 21 , 37 , 39 , 44 during testing of health-care workers, 36 at HIV clinics, 18 , 22 , 23 , 41 , 44 , 46 and at general medical clinics (patients did not have known liver disease). 25 , 32 Eight cohorts comprised exclusively HIV-positive participants. 18 , 22 , 23 , 41 , 44 , 46 HIV testing was done in 13 other cohorts: people with HIV were excluded from seven cohorts, 24 , 25 , 30 , 36 , 43 , 44 whereas the remaining six cohorts 19 , 21 , 31 , 34 , 37 , 45 had a HIV prevalence of 0·6–13·8%.…”

Ethnopharmacological Approaches for Therapy of Jaundice: Part I

“…HDV was distinguished and did not share any homology to the other known animal viruses and resembled the plant virus satellites, which are also related to plant viroids (Sureau and Negro, 2016 ). The HDV genome consists of single-stranded RNA and eight genotypes have been identified from different geographical regions (Opaleye et al, 2016 ).…”