1. Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Japanese Immigrants and Descendants: The Need to Strengthen Preventive and Control Measures
- Author
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Luiz Henrique Ferraz Demarchi, Larissa Melo Bandeira, Deborah Ledesma Taira, Marina Castilhos Souza Umaki Zardin, Mary Luizia Ibanhes, Ana Olivia Pascoto Esposito, Larissa Domingues Castilho De Arruda, Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone Gonçalves, Sabrina Moreira dos Santos Weis-Torres, Gabriela Alves Cesar, Rivaldo Venâncio Da Cunha, Tayana Serpa Ortiz Tanaka, Marco Antonio Moreira Puga, Grazielli Rocha De Rezende, Roberta Barbosa Lopes, Silvia Naomi de Oliveira Uehara, João Renato Rebello Pinho, Flair Jose Carrilho, Michele Soares Gomes-Gouvêa, and Ana Rita Coimbra Motta-Castro
- Subjects
Hepatitis B ,epidemiology ,seroprevalence ,genotype ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B virus infection among Japanese immigrants and their descendants from São Paulo (SP), and to verify the occurrence of occult hepatitis B and coinfection with HCV, Delta, and HTLV. All samples (n = 2.127) were tested for HBV serological markers by electrochemiluminescence. HBsAg and/or total anti-HBc positive samples were tested for HBV DNA by real-time PCR, and genotyped by sequencing using the Sanger methodology. The prevalence rate of HBV exposure was 13.4% (CI 95%: 11.9–14.9%), and 22 (1.1%) were HBsAg positive. A high rate of susceptibility to HBV infection was found (67.4%; CI 95%: 65.4–69.4%). In contrast, only 19.2% (CI 95%: 17.6–20.9%) presented a serological profile analogous to that elicited by Hepatitis B vaccination. HBV isolates (n = 8) were classified as genotypes HBV/B1 (62.5%), HBV/C2 (12.5%), HBV/F1b (12.5%), and HBV/A1 (12.5%). Hepatitis B vaccination strategies and educational measures to control this infection should be considered.
- Published
- 2022
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