Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection among recyclable waste collectors in central Brazil

Abstract

introduction:The collection of recyclable waste materials is a widespread activity among the urban poor. Today, this occupation attracts an increasingly large number of individuals. Despite its economic and environmental importance, this activity is associated with unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroepidemiological profi le of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a population of recyclable waste collectors in central Brazil. Methods: Recyclable waste collectors from all 15 recycling cooperatives in Goiânia City were invited to participate in the study. The participants (n = 431) were interviewed and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBsAg-and anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for HBV DNA and genotyped. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg-and/or anti-HBc-positive) was 12.8%. An age over 40 years and illicit drug use were associated with HBV infection. HBV DNA was detected in 2/3 HBsAg-positive samples and in 1/52 anti-HBc-positive/HBsAg-negative samples (an occult HBV infection rate of 1.9%), in which the genotypes/subgenotypes A/A1, D/D3 and F/F2 were identifi ed. Only 12.3% of the recyclable waste collectors had serological evidence of previous HBV vaccination. Conclusions: These fi ndings highlight the vulnerability of recyclable waste collectors to HBV infection and reinforce the importance of public health policies that address the health and safety of this socially vulnerable population.

Occult hepatitis B among patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis from a capital city in northeast Brazil

“…Confirming this trend, absence or low prevalence of OHB has been the most commonly obtained result in Brazilian studies on different populations, ranging from 0% to 2.7% …”

“…Confirming this trend, absence or low prevalence of OHB has been the most commonly obtained result in Brazilian studies on different populations, ranging from 0% to 2.7%. [41][42][43][44][45] In this study, the prevalence of OHB in CRF patients on dialysis was not correlated with gender, age, previous renal transplantation, serological profile for HBV, or the time the patient was on hemodialysis. The only correlation found was related to anti-HCV positivity.…”

Prevalence, risk factors and hepatitis B immunization: helping fill the gap on hepatitis B epidemiology among homeless people, Goiânia, Central Brazil

“…Age (years) 15 and users of illicit drugs (n = 852; 14%; 95%CI: 11.7-16.5) 16 . However, the prevalence found among homeless people in Goiânia was lower than that found ten years before by Brito et al 7 (30.6%; 95%CI: 25.9-35.8) in São Paulo.…”

Economic evaluation of HBV vaccination: A systematic review of recent publications (2000–2013)

“…[78][79] In this field the importance of public health policies that address the health and safety of this socially vulnerable population is very high. [80][81][82] A very recent systematic review highlights that waste workers need to be vaccinated against HBV infection taking into account these workers are at risk of acquiring this infection through the exposure to potentially infected waste. 83 The HBV vaccination has also an indirect effect on the epidemiology of blood transmitted diseases (BTD).…”