Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) have been identified as a unique human pathogen responsible for some 20 million infections globally. HDV virus is dependent on hepatitis B virus for transmission and propagation. In this study, 400 HBsAg-positive patients referred to the Kerman Besat clinic were examined to investigate the HDV and HBV infections; initially Enzyme Linked Immuno Assay (ELISA) test was done on plasma samples for HBsAg and HDVAg The Real-time PCR test performed on positive samples and for positive cases, Reverse Transcriptase -nested PCR (RT-nested PCR) was performed. HDV genotype was determined according to electrophoresis results and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) tests. To confirm the genotype, the PCR products were sequenced. Out of 400 positive HBsAg patients, 67 samples were positive for HDV Ag. After more confirmation tests by Real-time PCR, seven patients have positive HDV RNA. After PCR-RFLP for detection genotype of HDV, all polymorphisms were shown to be genotype I. HDV genotyping was successfully performed by direct sequencing and our results point to a low prevalence of HDV in the Kerman population which is in sharp contrast to data reported from Iranian scientists done years ago. HDV genotype I is the main genotype in Kerman province , Iran and the middle East.
 

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