Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and dual HBV-hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in apparently healthy persons.

Abstract

The main aims of the present study were to evaluate the transfusional risk concerning HBV and HBV-HDV infections and the prevalence of viral serum markers in apparently healthy persons. Our study included 226 apparently healthy persons in whom we performed tests for HBV (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb) and HDV (Delta Ab) serum markers, using the enzyme immunoassay. In 45 (19.9%) subjects we detected serum HBsAg. In the 181 HBsAg-negative apparently healthy persons, our tests detected HBsAb (31 subjects) and HBcAb (49 subjects). Thus, 125 (55.3%) of the 226 apparently healthy persons had serologic evidence of past HBV infections. Delta Ab were detected in 3 (1.3%) of our subjects. We must state that one of the three Delta Ab-positive apparently healthy persons tested negative for both HBsAg and HBcAb.