American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 90, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1014-1020

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in United States-bound refugees from Asia and Africa (Article) (Open Access)

Mixson-Hayden T.* , Lee D. , Ganova-Raeva L. , Drobeniuc J. , Stauffer W.M. , Teshale E. , Kamili S.
  • a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • b Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • e Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • f Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • g Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, MS A33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of active hepatitis B and C virus infections among refugees from various countries in Africa and Asia. Pre-admission serum samples collected during 2002-2007 from refugees originating from Bhutan (N = 755), Myanmar (N = 1076), Iraq (N = 1137), Laos (N = 593), Thailand (N = 622), and Somalia (N = 707) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. The HBV DNA (genotypes A, B, C, and G) was detected in 12.1% of samples negative for anti-HBs. Highest HBV prevalence was found among Hmong; lowest among Bhutanese. The HCV RNA (genotypes 1a, 1b, 1c, 3b, 6n, and 6m) was detected in 1.3% of the samples. Highest HCV prevalence was found among Hmong from Thailand; lowest among Iraqis. Screening specific refugee groups at high risk for viral hepatitis infections will identify infected individuals who could benefit from referral to care and treatment and prevent further transmissions. Copyright © 2014 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

blood sampling genotype DNA sequence refugee virus DNA DNA, Viral Laos Thailand human Refugees middle aged Asia Iraq Hepatitis C virus Aged Hepatitis B virus Bhutan RNA, Viral United States Young Adult Humans Adolescent male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly Africa Myanmar prevalence Article major clinical study Phylogeny adult Somalia virus load Hepatitis B Surface Antigens hepatitis B phylogenetic tree Hepacivirus hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84902287966&doi=10.4269%2fajtmh.14-0068&partnerID=40&md5=faa5ca305fd412a29d50c42a05aa7a83
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0068
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 17
Original Language: English