Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Prevalence of antibodies against Hepatitis D virus (HDV) in blood donors in Northern Germany

David Juhl*, Michael Chudy, Siegfried Görg, Holger Hennig

*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of HDV infections in German blood donors. Method: 167 donors with acute/chronic or resolved HBV infection and detectable antibodies against Hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were tested for antibodies against HDV (anti-HDV) by competitive ELISA. Samples with detectable anti-HDV or with HBsAg and/or HBV DNA were additionally investigated for HDV RNA. Results: In nine (5.4 %) of the 167 donors, also HBsAg and HBV DNA were detectable. Anti-HDV was detectable in two of the 167 donors (1.2 %), additional four donors (2.4 %) had a borderline result. All of these donors tested negative for HBsAg and HBV DNA. Neither in samples with anti-HDV nor in HBsAg-/HBV DNA-positive samples, HDV RNA was detectable. Conclusions: At least 1.2 % of anti-HBc-positive blood donors have had an HDV infection. Although there is some evidence for a somewhat higher prevalence of HDV, the overall prevalence of HDV in Northern Germany is low.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102721
JournalTransfusion and Apheresis Science
Volume59
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)102721
ISSN1473-0502
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 06.2020

Funding

The authors are indebted to Ursula Thiessen and the staff of the blood donor's laboratory in L?beck for the excellent technical assistance.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence of antibodies against Hepatitis D virus (HDV) in blood donors in Northern Germany'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this