Author/Authors :
Sharifzadeh Gholamreza نويسنده Epidemiologist, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand , Fereidouni Mohammad Saeid نويسنده Aquatic Animal Health Unit, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, Po Box 71345-173. , Ziaee Masood نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Hepatitis Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran , Bijari Bita نويسنده Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran , Azarkar Zohreh نويسنده Dept. of Infectious Disease, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand , Ebrahimzadeh Azadeh نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Ebrahimzadeh Azadeh , Karamian Mehdi نويسنده Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital,
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Javanmard Davod نويسنده Hepatitis Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran , Namaei Mohammad Hasan نويسنده Hepatitis Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran , Farzad Marjan نويسنده Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of
Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Abstract :
Background It is estimated that about 5% of hepatitis B surface
antigen (HBsAg) carriers are infected with hepatitis D virus (HDV)
worldwide. Moreover, dual infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) / HDV
causes more severe diseases and leads to a higher risk of mortality.
Objectives This study was performed to determine the prevalence of HDV
infection and identify HDV-associated factors among HBsAg-positive
patients in Birjand, South Khorasan province, Iran. Methods This
descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted on 5235 participants in
line with a previous study on the seroprevalence of HBV in South of
Khorasan. HDV was assessed through evaluating the blood serum of
diagnosed HBsAg-positive patients (85 cases) by ELISA test. For
statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were calculated, using SPSS
version 22. Results In this study, the mean age of HBsAg-positive
patients was 45.1 ± 12.9 years (minimum, 22 years; maximum, 70 years).
In total, 1 out of 85 cases was positive for HDV virus. The prevalence
of HDV infection among HBsAg-positive patients was 1.2% (95% CI, - 1.2
to 3.5). Conclusions The low prevalence of HDV infection in South of
Khorasan was remarkable, considering the great area of this province,
use of a comprehensive and inclusive sampling strategy, and mutual
borders with Afghanistan.
