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Occult Hepatitis B Infection in Recent Immigrants to Italy: Occult B Infection in Immigrants

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Abstract

This study determined the prevalence and clinical features of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) in a population of recent immigrants to Italy. Two hundred-five immigrants were tested for HBV-infection and were classified as seropositive-OBI or false-OBI. Biochemical/virological activities and imaging diagnostics were determined in anti-HBc-positive subjects. Among the tested subjects, 39.0% were anti-HBc-positive/HBsAg-negative; 11.2% had persistently normal ALT levels with mild detectable HBV-DNA, seropositive-OBI; 6.2% had slightly elevated ALT and positive serum HBV-DNA with a mean level of viral load: 3275 copies/mL-false-OBI. The total prevalence of OBI was 6.8%; 4.4% were seropositive-OBI and 2.4% were false-OBI. Diagnosis by echo-tomography was achieved in 35.7% OBI subjects with alterations of the hepatic echo-texture. We found a moderate prevalence of occult hepatitis B-infection in immigrants. Frequently, these subjects present false-OBI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Master’s Degree in Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Foggia, Via Rovelli, 48, 71122, Foggia, Italy

    Gaetano Scotto

  2. Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and Clinical Laboratory Specialist, Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    Vincenzina Fazio

  3. Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Infectious Diseases Section, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Coppola Nicola

Authors
  1. Gaetano Scotto
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  2. Vincenzina Fazio
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  3. Coppola Nicola
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Correspondence to Gaetano Scotto.

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Scotto, G., Fazio, V. & Nicola, C. Occult Hepatitis B Infection in Recent Immigrants to Italy: Occult B Infection in Immigrants. J Community Health 45, 357–362 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00746-2

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