Infection
Volume 31, Issue 2, 2003, Pages 70-74

Prevalence rates of viral hepatitis infections in refugee Kurds from Iraq and Turkey (Article)

Chironna M.* , Germinario C. , Lopalco P.L. , Carrozzini F. , Barbuti S. , Quarto M.
  • a Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy
  • b Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy
  • c Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy
  • d Dept. of Health, Local Health Unit LE/2, Lecce, Italy
  • e Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy
  • f Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy

Abstract

Background: Since littte is known about the burden of viral hepatitis in Kurds, the prevalence of infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was investigated in a sample of refugee Kurds from Iraq and Turkey. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Serological markers to hepatitis viruses were determined for 1,005 subjects from all age-groups of which 36.6% were from Turkey and 63.4% from Iraq. Results: Overall seroprevalence for anti-HAV was 94.4% and 14.8% for anti-HEV. A significantly higher prevalence for anti-HEV was found among Iraqis (17.5%) compared to Turkish immigrants (10.0%). The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and total anti-HBc (core) was 6.8% and 35.6% in Turkish Kurds and 2.2% and 12.7% in Iraqis, respectively. Only 10% of children aged up to 10 years and 2.8% of subjects aged 11-20 years had been vaccinated against HBV, the majority of them coming from Iraq. One subject was confirmed as positive for anti-HCV (0.1%) and HCV-RNA and analysis showed a 4c/4d genotype. Conclusion: This survey shows a high prevalence of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis in Kurds. HBV infection is moderately endemic, while the prevalence of HCV infection is Low. There is a need for a universal immunization strategy for HBV in the Kurd population.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

genotype immigrant refugee Hepatitis, Chronic human Refugees hepatitis A war controlled study Turkey (republic) Iraq Hepatitis C virus Hepatitis B virus Cross-Sectional Studies Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male female Infant enzyme linked immunosorbent assay virus RNA microparticle enzyme immunoassay prevalence hepatitis B core antibody Article major clinical study adult immunoglobulin M antibody seroepidemiology immunoglobulin G antibody Turkey endemic disease hepatitis B vaccine hepatitis a virus age distribution virus transmission hepatitis B surface antigen Italy seroprevalence hepatitis B Western blotting hepatitis A antibody Hepatitis E virus Hepatitis E Hepatitis Antibodies hepatitis C Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0037358789&doi=10.1007%2fs15010-002-3100-3&partnerID=40&md5=e4456fb526a04fad3258dab7192a05b0
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-002-3100-3
ISSN: 03008126
Cited by: 42
Original Language: English