European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume 29, Issue 8, 2017, Pages 939-945

Seroprevalence of antibodies and antigens against hepatitis A-E viruses in refugees and asylum seekers in Germany in 2015 (Article)

Jablonka A. , Solbach P. , Wöbse M. , Manns M.P. , Schmidt R.E. , Wedemeyer H. , Cornberg M. , Behrens G.M.N. , Hardtke S.*
  • a Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
  • b Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
  • c Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
  • d Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany, HepNet Study-House, German Liver Foundation, Hannover, Germany
  • e Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
  • f Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
  • g Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany, HepNet Study-House, German Liver Foundation, Hannover, Germany
  • h Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
  • i Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany, German Center for Infection Research, Partner-site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany, HepNet Study-House, German Liver Foundation, Hannover, Germany

Abstract

Background Migration because of miscellaneous political crises in countries in the Middle East and Africa is a global challenge for whole Europe from an economic, social, and public health view. There is an urgent need to generate comprehensive, evidence-based data to expedite further screening and vaccination strategies. Methods A total of 604 individuals ranging in age from 2 to 68 years who enrolled at a single reception center were tested for the prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis virus types A, B, C, D, and E (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV), respectively. Results Anti-HAV antibody prevalence was 91.2 and 70.3% in children younger than 18 years of age. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was 20.1% among the individuals. 3.0% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, whereas 15.2% tested positive for anti-hepatitis B core antigen. None of the refugees tested positive for anti-HDV. 14.1% of refugees were vaccinated against hepatitis B and had a protective anti-hepatitis B surface level of at least 10 mIU/ml. Significant differences in vaccination status were found between the regions (Eastern Mediterranean Region with 77/482 (16.0%; 95% confidence interval=12.7-19.3%) versus African Region with 1/55 (1.8%; 95% confidence interval=0-5.0%). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 1.2% (n=7), with 0.7% HCV RNA positivity; 16.7% of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive individuals were HCV coinfected (n=3). Conclusion The prevalence of refugees with previous exposure to hepatitis viruses was higher than that in the general German population, but lower than in other migrant populations in Germany. The vaccination status against hepatitis B was poor. © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Author Keywords

prevalences Asylum seekers Refugees Hepatitis Infection

Index Keywords

genetics hepatitis vaccine Germany refugee antibody titer human Refugees middle aged Viral Load Biomarkers German (citizen) priority journal ELISA kit Hepatitis C virus comparative study Aged nonhuman Hepatitis B virus RNA, Viral virus hepatitis asylum seeker Young Adult Humans migrant virology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female preschool child Infant Child, Preschool Africa refugee camp virus RNA immunology Article epidemic blood Southern Europe major clinical study adult migration seroepidemiology biological marker virus load hepatitis virus Hepatitis, Viral, Human hepatitis delta virus hepatitis a virus cohort analysis hepatitis B surface antigen Emigration and Immigration Viral Hepatitis Vaccines vaccination Hepatitis B Surface Antigens seroprevalence Seroepidemiologic Studies hepatitis B core antigen hepatitis antibody Hepatitis E virus Hepatitis Viruses immunoassay analyzer hepatitis antigen Hepatitis Antibodies Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85023163164&doi=10.1097%2fMEG.0000000000000889&partnerID=40&md5=9bbf9a06300e76f5aadbe116b3e9e772
DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000000889
ISSN: 0954691X
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English