Hepatitis B and Delta virus infection among heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexual men

✍ Scribed by A. Mele; E. Franco; F. Caprilli; G. Gentili; M. A. Stazi; L. Zaratti; B. Capitanio; E. Crescimbeni; R. Corona; A. Panà; P. Pasquini

• Book ID: 104641070
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 329 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00146404

✦ Synopsis

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection rates were estimated in patients attending a venereal disease outpatient clinic: 759 heterosexuals and 154 homosexualbisexual men. The anti-HBc prevalence was higher in homo-bisexual men (68.8 per 100) than in heterosexuals (41.8 per 100), whereas HBsAg was roughly the same in the two groups (about 6 per 100). The anti-HBc prevalence rate among heterosexuals was higher than that estimated in hospital personnel from the same geographical area. A positive association between anti-HBc prevalence and present or past sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was found among homo-bisexual men. Anti-HBc was also positively associated with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies in both heterosexuals and homo-bisexual men. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual behavior also plays a role in the spread of infection among heterosexuals. Ten of the 46 HBsAg-positive subjects were anti-HDV positive: 6 of the 36 heterosexuals and 4 of the 10 homosexuals. All HDV-positive subjects had present or past STDs. These findings suggest sexual transmission of HDV infection.