Winter, AnnjaLetang, EmilioKalinjuma, Aneth VedastusKimera, NamvuaNtamatungiro, Alex J.Glass, Tracy R.Moradpour, DariusSahli, RolandLe Gal, FrédéricFurrer, HansjakobWandeler, GillesKIULARCO Study Group2016-05-192016-05-192016-051201-9712https://hdl.handle.net/2445/98687OBJECTIVES: The epidemiological and clinical determinants of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in Sub-Saharan Africa are ill-defined. The prevalence of HDV infection was determined in HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infected individuals in rural Tanzania. METHODS: All hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected adults under active follow-up in the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO) were screened for anti-HDV antibodies. For positive samples, a second serological test and nucleic acid amplification were performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) were compared between anti-HDV-negative and positive patients. RESULTS: Among 222 HIV/HBV co-infected patients on ART, 219 (98.6%) had a stored serum sample available and were included in the study. Median age was 37 years, 55% were female, 46% had World Health Organization stage III/IV HIV disease, and the median CD4 count was 179 cells/mul. The prevalence of anti-HDV positivity was 5.0% (95% confidence interval 2.8-8.9%). There was no significant predictor of anti-HDV positivity. HDV could not be amplified in any of the anti-HDV-positive patients and the second serological test was negative in all of them. CONCLUSIONS: No confirmed case of HDV infection was found among over 200 HIV/HBV co-infected patients in Tanzania. As false-positive serology results are common, screening results should be confirmed with a second test.3 p.application/pdfengcc by-nc-nd (c) Winter et al., 2016http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/VIH (Virus)Virus de l'hepatitis deltaHIV (Viruses)Hepatitis D (hepatitis delta)info:eu-repo/semantics/article2016-05-10info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess26996457