[Determination of type-specific synthetic peptide antibodies to hepatitis delta virus ].

Nine peptides from immunodominant (53-68 and 65-80 aa) and hypervariable (201-213 aa) regions derived from delta antigen sequences corresponding to 3 HDV genotypes were synthesized. Type specificity of antibodies to the resultant peptides was evaluated by indirect enzyme immunoassay with sera from patients with hepatitis D and asymptomatic carriers of anti-delta antibodies. Analysis of the results showed that HDV circulating in the Central Volga region belongs to type I in the majority of cases. High heterogeneity and changeability of HDV genome during the period of transition from acute forms to asymptomatic carriership was revealed. Possibility of circulation of new hybrid HDV strains causing mixed infection in Russia is discussed.