Scientific Reports (Jul 2023)

Development of quantitative multiplex RT-qPCR one step assay for detection of hepatitis delta virus

  • Jackson Alves da Silva Queiroz,
  • Tárcio Peixoto Roca,
  • Rutilene Barbosa Souza,
  • Luiz Fellype Alves de Souza,
  • Ana Maísa Passos-Silva,
  • André Luiz Ferreira da Silva,
  • Eugênia de Castro e Silva,
  • Lourdes Maria Pinheiro Borzacov,
  • Rita de Cássia Pontello Rampazzo,
  • Soraya dos Santos Pereira,
  • Thor Oliveira Dantas,
  • Janaína Mazaro,
  • Lívia Melo Villar,
  • Juan Miguel Villalobos Salcedo,
  • Daniel Archimedes da Matta,
  • Deusilene Vieira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37756-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Hepatitis Delta is a disease caused by exposure to hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis D (HDV) viruses, usually with a more severe clinical outcome when compared to an HBV monoinfection. To date, the real prevalence of HDV infection is underestimated and detection methods are poorly available, especially in more endemic regions. Therefore, a one-step RT-qPCR method for quantification of HDV-RNA was developed. Biological samples were selected between 2017 and 2023 from patients at the Ambulatório Especializado em Hepatites Virais of the Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical de Rondônia and Serviço de Assistência Especializada and underwent the test developed by this study and a second quantitative RT-qPCR assay. The slope of the initial quantitative assay was − 3.321 with an efficiency of 100.04% and amplification factor equal to 2. Analysis of the repeatability data revealed a Limit of Quantification of 5 copies/reaction and Limit of Detection (95%) of 2.83 copies per reaction. In the diagnostic sensitivity tests, there was an accuracy of 97.37% when compared to the reference test. This assay proved to be highly efficient and reproducible, making it a valuable tool to monitor hepatitis Delta patients and assess the risk of disease progression, as well as the effectiveness of treatment.