Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 323-327

Hepatitis A, B, and C infection in a community of sub-Saharan immigrants living in Verona (Italy) (Article) (Open Access)

Majori S.* , Baldo V. , Tommasi I. , Malizia M. , Floreani A. , Monteiro G. , Ferrari A. , Accordini A. , Guzzo P. , Baldovin T.
  • a Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva Ambientale e Occupazionale, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy, Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva Ambientale e Occupazionale, Istituti Biologici II, Strada Le Grazie, 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
  • b Dipartimento di Medicina Ambientale e Sanità Pubblica, Sede di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
  • c Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva Ambientale e Occupazionale, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
  • d Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva Ambientale e Occupazionale, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
  • e Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Gastroenterologiche, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
  • f Malattie Tropicali, Ospedale di Negrar (VR), Verona, Italy
  • g Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda ULSS 20, Verona, Italy
  • h Laboratorio di Analisi Cliniche, Ospedale di Bussolengo, Verona, Italy
  • i Unità Operativa di Laboratorio, Ospedale di San Bonifacio, Verona, Italy
  • j Dipartimento di Medicina Ambientale e Sanità Pubblica, Sede di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

Abstract

Background. In Italy, about 5% of the population is represented by immigrants. The epidemiology of hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Africa is very different from Europe; the present study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis infections in sub-Saharan African immigrants living in Verona. Methods. A total of 182 illegal immigrants were interviewed concerning sociodemographic characteristics and epidemiological information. Their serum was tested for anti-HAV [immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM], HBV (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, and anti-HBe), and HCV (anti-HCV) markers. Results. The immigrants (age: 3 mo-60 y) were mostly single and males, with a higher education; only 50% of them declared having a regular job. Anti-IgG HAV+ prevalence was 99.5% (100% HAV positivity in the younger age bracket). As for HBV, 67.6% (123) of the immigrants were naturally infected and 9.3% had chronic infection; 4.4% were anti-HBs+ isolated (vaccinated). For HBV infection (any HBV marker), a significant difference was only found for increasing age (p < 0.01) and married people (p < 0.001). A statistically significant prevalence of HBsAg was found among the unemployed (p < 0.001) and those with a lower education (p < 0.05). Five cases (2.7%) resulted in HCV+ with no reported specific risk factors and with no significantly different sociodemographic features; these people tended to report a low level of education and unemployment. Conclusions. HAV and HBV positivity is higher than in the autochthonous population. While HAV positivity merely represents past infection, the high prevalence of HBsAg in immigrants and the presence of HBsAg/HBeAg in the same group may represent a risk for HBV transmission. The HCV positivity rate resulted similar to the prevalence of the Italian population. © 2008 International Society of Travel Medicine.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

blood sampling Nigeria educational status immigrant Africa south of the Sahara demography poverty human hepatitis A middle aged Hepatitis C virus Ghana Hepatitis B virus Guinea-Bissau groups by age interview Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Hepatitis A Antigens female Socioeconomic Factors Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool questionnaire prevalence Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice hepatitis B core antibody Article hepatitis B(e) antibody hepatitis B(e) antigen employment status adult serology immunoglobulin G antibody hepatitis B surface antibody hepatitis a virus hepatitis C antibody hepatitis B surface antigen infection Italy virus transmission Hepatitis B Surface Antigens seroprevalence immunoglobulin G hepatitis B hepatitis A antibody Seroepidemiologic Studies Hepatitis B Core Antigens enzyme immunoassay disease marker illegal immigrant Western blotting immunoglobulin M hepatitis C Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53849100356&doi=10.1111%2fj.1708-8305.2008.00230.x&partnerID=40&md5=75692d2610dcb0bb6a011251a926a1ac
DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2008.00230.x
ISSN: 11951982
Cited by: 32
Original Language: English