Prevalence of Hepatitis B, C, HIV and syphilis markers among refugees in Bari, Italy.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) serological markers and the prevalence of VDRL positive subjects in a population of refugees of various nationalities, living in the Asylum Seeker Centre in Bari Palese, Southern Italy.


METHODS
The study was carried out in the period May-July 2008 and recruited only voluntarily enrolled healthy refugees. HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV virus antibodies were detected. VDRL syphilis screening was also carried out on the serum samples.


RESULTS
A total of 529 refugees, 442 males and 87 females, aged between 7 and 52 years, were studied. Of these, 510 were from Africa and 19 from Asia.Forty-four individuals (8.3%) were HBsAg positive and 241 (45.6%) were anti-HBc positive. A total of 24 (4.5%) individuals were anti-HCV positive. Eight asylum seekers (1.5%) were HIV positive. VDRL tests were performed on 269 subjects and 4 (1.5%) were positive. 12.3% of the study population had serological markers of chronic and transmissible infections with potential blood-borne or sexual transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
In Italy, a suitable protocol is necessary for the early diagnosis of infectious diseases on entering Asylum Centres, so allowing the adoption of prevention measures to safeguard the health of the individuals, the residents and workers in the Centres and the general population.
Tafuri
Silvio
S
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Puglia Regional Observatory for Epidemiology, Bari, Italy.
Prato
Rosa
R
Martinelli
Domenico
D
Melpignano
Livio
L
De Palma
Maria
M
Quarto
Michele
M
Germinario
Cinzia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood; D012036:Refugees; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D002308:Cardiolipins; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C054448:VDRL antigen; D002784:Cholesterol