This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Other Versions of this Article: JCM.02142-07v1 46/2/754    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Google Scholar Articles by Makuwa, M. Articles by Kazanji, M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Makuwa, M. Articles by Kazanji, M.

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Hepatitis B and Delta Viruses in Pregnant Women in Gabon: Molecular Evidence that Hepatitis Delta Virus Clade 8 Originates from and Is Endemic in Central Africa

Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre International de Recherches Médicales, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon,¹ Programme National de Lutte contre le Sida, Libreville, Gabon,² Service de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle, French Embassy, BP 2105, Libreville, Gabon,³ Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France⁴

Received 6 November 2007/ Returned for modification 23 November 2007/ Accepted 26 November 2007

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 9.2% of 1,186 pregnant women from Gabon, of whom 10.1% had the HBe antigen and 89.9% had anti-HBe antibodies. Antibodies to the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) were found in 15.6% of the HBsAg-positive women. The HBV strains were of the A3 and E genotypes. The HDV strains belonged to HDV clades 1 and 8. These results provide clear evidence that HDV clade 8 is indigenous to Africa.

Published ahead of print on 12 December 2007.