Serological markers of Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece.
BACKGROUND
Greece is a place of settlement for a large number of immigrants, particularly from Albania, which constitute special community groups for public health policies.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the seroprevalence of serological markers for Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece.


METHODS
The study population included 504 subjects, 418 males and 86 females, aged 10-23 years old who have emigrated from Albania to Pogoniani-Greece and participated voluntarily in vaccination programmes against Hepatitis B. The serum samples were examined with enzyme immune assays for the immunological markers HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV. HBsAg positive samples were further tested for IgM anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe.


RESULTS
Among the examined subjects, 40.5% were found positive for anti-HBc, indicating an HBV contamination. Specifically, 11.7% were carriers of HBsAg, whereas 28.8% were negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBc. Only 6.5% was positive exclusively for anti-HBs. The rest (53.0%) presented no positive serological markers. Among the HBsAg positive patients, 8.5% were found positive for HBeAg, while 5.1% was positive for IgM anti-HBc. Finally, only 0.6% of the sample presented antibodies against HCV.


CONCLUSIONS
The examined migratory population is described by a high prevalence of Hepatitis B. Therefore, specific public health measures are necessary. However, no data was found that indicate potential public health dangers regarding hepatitis C.
Health Centre of Delvinaki-Regional Medical Department of Pogoniani, National School of Public Health, Greece. pesscharis@hotmail.com
Charalampos
C
Milionis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies