Hepatitis A and E among immigrants and refugees in Central Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) among immigrants and refugees in Goiás, Central Brazil. METHODS Overall, 355 individuals were interviewed, and blood samples were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG. Anti-HEV-positive samples were similarly tested for HEV RNA. RESULTS All participants were from Latin American countries, most of whom, young adult males. The overall anti-HAV IgG prevalence was 87.4% (95%CI: 83.5–90.4), of whom 94.9%, 75.6%, and 60% were from Haiti, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries, respectively (p < 0.001). Age above 19 years and more than 36 months residing in Brazil were associated with a higher prevalence of previous HAV and HEV infection, respectively. Of the children eligible for HAV vaccination according to the National Immunization Program, only eight (44%) had been vaccinated. The overall anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 6.5% (95%CI: 4.4–9.5). All anti-HEV IgG-positive individuals were Haitians, including a child born in Brazil. HEV RNA was detected in two of the anti-HEV IgG-positive samples. CONCLUSION The survey detected a high prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG among immigrants and refugees, and active HEV infection among some Haitian participants. Prevention measures are urgently required to interrupt enteric virus transmission in this emergent and vulnerable population.

Hepatitis E virus in children and adolescents living in an urban environment in central Argentina: An explorative study

“…This low HEV seroprevalence found is also in line with the few studies performed in children in Latin America [ 3 ]. Some of them documented prevalences of 1.2 % in Chile [ 15 ], 1.7 % in Bolivia [ 16 ], 1.1 % in Colombia [ 3 ] and 1.6 % in Brazil [ 17 ], while others reported slightly higher seroprevalence rates of 4.5 % in Mato Grosso State in Brazil [ 18 ], or 3 % and 3.9 % in Mexico [ 19 , 20 ]. Although the different diagnostic kits used could be a factor of variability in the reported prevalences, in all studies low circulation values were recorded in the pediatric population.…”

Panorama des pathologies infectieuses et non infectieuses de Guyane en 2022

“…Il n'existe pas de données concernant le Suriname. Concernant Haïti, la séroprévalence a été estimée à 10,3% chez les femmes enceintes et les personnes originaires d'Haïti représentaient l'intégralité des cas séropositifs dans une étude réalisée auprès d'immigrés du centre du Brésil, y compris des enfants nés au Brésil de parents haïtiens (2 de ces cas étaient aussi positifs en ARN VHE, traduisant une infection active) [ 342 , 360 ]. Ainsi, face à cette lacune majeure dans la connaissance sur les hépatites virales à transmission féco-orale A et E, il est impératif de mettre en place des études visant à évaluer leur incidence et leur séroprévalence en Guyane.…”

A time-series analysis of morbidity and mortality of viral hepatitis in Venezuela, 1990–2016

“…More recently, in 2017, a study of the Warao indigenous communities of the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela documented a seroprevalence of HBsAg of 1.8% and anti-HBc of 13% [ 14 ]. In 2022, a study of Venezuelan and Haitian migrants and refugees in Brazil reported an anti-HAV immunoglobulin G prevalence of 94.9% in Haitians and 75.6% in Venezuelans aged 19 years and over [ 15 ].…”