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Occult Hepatitis B Infection in the Immigrant Population of Sicily, Italy

Abstract  

In Italy, about 7 % of the resident population is represented by immigrants originating from geographic regions at high endemicity
for hepatitis B virus infection. This study aims to assess the prevalence of occult HBV infection (OBI) including the identification
of HBV-genotypes in a population of immigrants serologically negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Between May
2006 and May 2010, 339 immigrants were tested for markers of HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infections. HBV-DNA was tested by using nested-PCR assays on three different genetic region. HBV-DNA was detected in
plasma samples of 11/339 (3.2 %) patients. Most of them had no serological markers of HBV infection, 3/58 (5.2 %) were anti-HBc-alone,
and 4/13 (30.8 %) were anti-HIV positive. HIV positivity was the only factor independently associated with the higher probability
of observing OBI (OR = 16.5, p < 0.001). No HCV co-infected patients were found. Genotype D was detected in 9/11 (81.8 %) OBI cases, while the remaining
two (18.2 %) were classified as genotype E. Although OBI was found at lower rate than expected among immigrants from highly
endemic countries, anti-HBc alone positivity was confirmed as a sentinel marker of occult HBV infection. Nevertheless, a marked
heterogeneity of HBV markers was found among HBV-DNA positive subjects. Our finding evidenced the predominance of HBV-genotype
D viral strains among OBI cases, also in those from geographical areas where overt HBV infections are mainly sustained by
viral genotypes other than D.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-7
  • DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9699-y
  • Authors
    • Fabio Tramuto, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, 133 via del Vespro, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    • Carmelo M. Maida, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, 133 via del Vespro, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    • Giuseppina M. E. Colomba, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, 133 via del Vespro, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    • Paola Di Carlo, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Infectious Diseases Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Giovanni Mazzola, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Infectious Diseases Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Valentina Li Vecchi, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Infectious Diseases Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Mario Affronti, Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Pathologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Giuseppe Montalto, Department of Clinical Medicine and Emerging Pathologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Francesco Vitale, Department of Sciences for Health Promotion “G. D’Alessandro”—Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, 133 via del Vespro, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    • Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
    • Online ISSN 1557-1920
    • Print ISSN 1557-1912
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 08/16/2012 | Link to this post on IFP |
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