title: Hepatitis B, C, and D and HIV infections among immigrants from Equatorial Guinea living in Spain.
abstract: A total of 1,220 subjects from Equatorial Guinea living in Spain (median age = 41 years; 453 male and 767 female) was examined for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV), and D (HDV) viruses. Extracted RNA and DNA from the positive samples were used to quantify viral load. The prevalence of HIV antibodies, HCV RNA, and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was 10.8% (N = 132), 11.6% (N = 141), and 7.9% (N = 96), respectively. The most prevalent HIV variant was CRF02_AG (38.5%; N = 40). HCV genotype 4 (60%; N = 36) and HBV genotype A3 (32%; N = 8) were the hepatitis variants most frequently found. Superinfection with HDV was seen in 20.9% (N = 24) of HBsAg carriers. A control group of 276 immigrants from other sub-Saharan countries showed similar rates of HIV and HBsAg, although no HCV cases were found. Immigrants constitute a major source of HIV and hepatitis viruses in Spain; therefore, it is important that control measures are intensified.
authors: Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Unidad de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. pablorivasg@hotmail.com
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Rivas
authors: María D
authors: MD
authors: Herrero
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Poveda
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Madejón
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Treviño
authors: Maite
authors: M
authors: Gutiérrez
authors: Concepción
authors: C
authors: Ladrón de Guevara
authors: Mar
authors: M
authors: Lago
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: de Mendoza
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Soriano
authors: Sabino
authors: S
authors: Puente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000821:virology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies