Author:
CHIARAMONTE M.,PUPO A.,MENEGON T.,BALDO V.,MALATESTA R.,TRIVELLO R.
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.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Epidemiology
Cited by
21 articles.
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