Journal of Medical Virology
Volume 91, Issue 12, 2019, Pages 2049-2058

HDV infection in immigrant populations (Review)

Coppola N.* , Alessio L. , Onorato L. , Sagnelli C. , Sagnelli E. , Pisaturo M.
  • a Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy, Infectious Disease Unit, AORN Caserta, Caserta, Italy
  • b Infectious Disease Unit, AORN Caserta, Caserta, Italy
  • c Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
  • d Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy, Infectious Disease Unit, AORN Caserta, Caserta, Italy
  • e Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
  • f Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

Abstract

Aims: Little data have been published so far on the epidemiological aspects of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection in immigrant populations and even poorer is the information on the virological, phylogenetic, and clinical aspects of this infection in these populations. This review article, aimed primarily at physicians caring for immigrants, summarizes the information available on HDV infection and analyzes data on this topic concerning the immigrant populations. Methods and Results: The prevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg-positive immigrants varies according to the country of origin. For example, in immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, this prevalence is higher in those born in Equatorial Guinea (24.4%) than those from other African countries (10.3%). The epidemiological impact of HDV infection linked to migratory flows is a function of the different endemicity between countries of origin and countries in which a new existence has been established. This impact is high when immigrants from areas endemic to HDV infection (eg, Equatorial Guinea) settle in areas of low endemicity (eg, Germany or England, with a prevalence of around 4%), while the impact is lesser or nonexistent if the migratory flows are directed toward countries with intermediate endemicity (eg, Italy and Greece, with a prevalence of around 10%). Conclusion: This impact of immigration on HDV epidemiology can be strong when HDV endemicity is high in the country of origin and low in the host country and slight when immigrants move to high or medium endemic countries. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

immigrants HDV hepatitis HBV/HDV coinfection HDV prevalence HDV infection

Index Keywords

patient care Germany immigrant Africa south of the Sahara human England unclassified drug Equatorial Guinea Review Greece prevalence rep 2139 ca nucleoside analog peginterferon gastrointestinal symptom lonafarnib nucleic acid ritonavir bulevirtide alpha interferon peginterferon alpha migration physician endemic disease hepatitis delta virus delta agent hepatitis hepatitis B surface antigen Italy
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071612242&doi=10.1002%2fjmv.25570&partnerID=40&md5=aa22fb8d85f64b1a356c757b4b87a5f1
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25570
ISSN: 01466615
Original Language: English