title: Immigration and hepatitis B virus: epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects.
abstract: This study in Italy aimed to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a population of recent (< 6 months) immigrants. Between February 2003 and December 2004, 83 (9.3%) out of 890 immigrants tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. All were men and 62.6% came-from Africa, 21.6% from Asia and 16.8% from Eastern Europe. About half (54.3%) of the patients had elevated alanine aminotransferase levels and detectable serum HBV DNA. Genotype distribution was as follows: E (20 cases), D (14 cases) and A (11 cases). Our study underscores the potential of migratory flow to introduce genotype non-D hepatitis B virus into our country.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. emipalu2003@yahoo.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scotto
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cibelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faleo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saracin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angarano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012703:Serotyping; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase