Prevalence of hepatitis b and hepatitis d co-infection in blood donors and hospital patients in east district of Sikkim

Abstract

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.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.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]. Out of 64 samples positive for HBsAg that were analysed one sample (1.6%) was positive for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D co-infection.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.