Molecular and epidemiological characteristics of blood-borne virus infections among recent immigrants in Spain.
The increased immigration from developing regions to Western countries raises public health concerns related to blood-borne viruses. The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infections among recent immigrants attending several Spanish diagnostic centers in years 2002 and 2003 was examined. Genetic characterization of viral subtypes and its relationship with distinct at-risk populations was carried out. A total of 1,303 immigrants were identified. They originated in Latin America (46.9%), Sub-Saharan Africa (23.7%), Eastern Europe (9.4%), and the Maghreb (9.2%). Seroprevalence rates were as follows: HIV-1 4.2%, HBV 4.1%, HCV 2.9%, and HTLV-1 0.8%. All patients with HIV-1 non-B subtypes, HBV genotypes E and A3, and HCV genotype 4 were sub-Saharan Africans, and had been infected mainly through heterosexual contacts. In contrast, Latin American homo/bisexual men carried HIV-1 subtype B most likely acquired after their arrival to Spain. In conclusion, while Sub-Saharan Africans carry wide diverse genetic variants of blood-borne viruses, the absence of high-risk practices in most cases could limit the spread of these variants. In contrast, Latin Americans with high-risk sexual practices may be a particularly vulnerable collective to acquire blood-borne viruses in the receptor country.
Toro
Carlos
C
Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Jiménez
Victoria
V
Rodríguez
Carmen
C
Del Romero
Jorge
J
Rodés
Berta
B
Holguín
Africa
A
Alvarez
Patricia
P
García-Campello
Marta
M
Gómez-Hernando
César
C
Guelar
Ana
A
Sheldon
Julie
J
de Mendoza
Carmen
C
Simón
Ainhoa
A
Soriano
Vincent
V
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002648:Child; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral