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Hepatitis E virus and hepatitis A virus exposures in an apparently healthy high-risk population in Italy

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Abstract

Purpose

The prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) and anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as the possible links with socio-demographic and other viral risks factors, were evaluated in an inmates population.

Methods

The study population consisted of 973 consecutively recruited inmates of eight Italian prisons.

Results

The anti-HEV prevalence was 11.6 % (113/973). It increased significantly by age (χ2 for linear trend: p = 0.001) and was significantly higher among non-Italian compared to Italian inmates (15.3 vs. 10.7 %, respectively). Age >40 years [odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.4–3.1], non-Italian citizenship (OR 1.8; 95 % CI 1.1–2.9) and anti-HIV seropositivity (OR 2.2; 95 % CI 1.2–4.2) were the only factors independently associated to anti-HEV positivity by logistic regression analysis. The overall anti-HAV prevalence was 86.4 %, and was significantly higher in non-Italian compared to Italian prisoners (92.6 vs. 84.9 %, respectively; p = 0.02). Age older than 40 years (OR 3.6; 95 % CI 2.2–5.9), <5 years formal education (OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.3–3.2) and non-Italian nationality (OR 2.7; 95 % CI 1.5–4.8) were factors independently associated to anti-HAV positivity by the logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

Compared to the general population, significantly higher anti-HEV and anti-HAV prevalences were observed in an inmates population in Italy. Old age and non-Italian nationality were factors independently related to both HEV and HAV exposures. This data suggest the important role of low socio-economic factors in the transmission of both infections in high-risk populations. The possible epidemiological and/or pathogenetic links between HEV and HIV exposures need to be studied further.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Tomasetto for the secretarial and editorial assistance and R. Gilardi for the graphical artwork. The project was partially supported by the Italian Ministry of Health RFPS-2007-7-638803 Finalized Project: “Characterization of emerging zoonotic pathogens” and “Viral Diagnostics Monitoring” Project DGFDM 10880. The authors wish to thank Dr. R. Pini and Dr. C. Ramirez of DSI Italia for their helpful discussions. We acknowledge Dr. G. Bisso for the statistical analysis of the anti-HEV experimental data and Prof. G. Girelli and Dr. A. Fakeri of University “La Sapienza”, Blood Transfusion Center, Rome, for providing the blood donors sera.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Viral Hepatitis Unit, Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299-00161, Rome, Italy

    M. Rapicetta, P. Chionne, E. Madonna & A. Candido

  2. Infectious Diseases Unit, Belcolle Hospital, Viterbo, Italy

    R. Monarca

  3. National Center for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation (CRIVIB), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

    L. A. Kondili

  4. Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    G. Madeddu, A. Soddu, M. S. Mura & S. Babudieri

  5. Infectious Diseases Clinic, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    S. Carbonara

  6. Penitentiary Department, Ministry of Justice, Rome, Italy

    G. Starnini

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  1. M. Rapicetta
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  2. R. Monarca
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  3. L. A. Kondili
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Correspondence to M. Rapicetta.

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Rapicetta, M., Monarca, R., Kondili, L.A. et al. Hepatitis E virus and hepatitis A virus exposures in an apparently healthy high-risk population in Italy. Infection 41, 69–76 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-012-0385-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-012-0385-8

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