Epidemiology and Infection
Volume 121, Issue 1, 1998, Pages 179-183

HBV and HCV infection among non-European Union immigrants in North-East Italy (Article)

Chiaramonte M.* , Pupo A. , Menegon T. , Baldo V. , Malatesta R. , Trivello R.
  • a Department of Gastroenterology, University of Padua, A. Ospedaliera Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy
  • b Public Health Department, Treviso Local Health District, Treviso, Italy
  • c Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua
  • d Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua
  • e Public Health Department, Treviso Local Health District, Treviso, Italy
  • f Institute of Hygiene, University of Padua

Abstract

The status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among non-European Union (non-EU) immigrants in North-East Italy was evaluated. Among the 1683 individuals tested the prevalence of HBsAg was 8.9% (150 subjects) and of HBV antibodies (anti-HBc with/without anti-HBs) was 38.9% (654 subjects). The distribution of HBV serological markers showed significant differences according to region of origin; the highest prevalence of infection (76.9%) and carriage (16.1%) was found in immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Among the 933 individuals screened for HCV infection, prevalence of antibody was much lower (0.9%) than that observed in the Italian general population (3.2-12.6%). The large number of HBV carriers among immigrants could increase the number of new adult infections due to life-style habits or professional risks in the host population. In contrast, the risk of HCV spread from non-EU immigrants is very low.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant lifestyle Africa south of the Sahara antibody titer human middle aged Aged disease carrier Humans Adolescent male female Infant Child, Preschool serodiagnosis marker Article major clinical study adult hepatitis B surface antigen Emigration and Immigration Italy hepatitis B Seroepidemiologic Studies Carrier State hepatitis B antibody hepatitis C Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0031715406&doi=10.1017%2fS0950268898001034&partnerID=40&md5=fd55a1c921a05ad4cdbdbcd0a2a2c0d9
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268898001034
ISSN: 09502688
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English