Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections in United States-Bound Refugees from Asia and Africa

Mixson‐Hayden, Tonya; Lee, Dong Hoon; Ganova-Raeva, Lilia; Drobeniuc, Jan; Stauffer, William M.; Teshale, Eyasu H.; Kamili, Saleem

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0068

Cited by 50 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…Samples positive for HBsAg were tested for HBV DNA by in-house quantitative PCR assays as previously described in Ref. [8]. Briefly, total nucleic acids (TNA) were extracted using 200 µL of serum with the Roche MagNA Pure Isolation Kit I (Roche Applied Science, Rochester, NY) with a final elution volume of 50 µL followed by Taqman quantitative PCR (qPCR) for HBV DNA.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Haiti: A cross-sectional serosurvey

Tohme

Andre-Alboth

Tejada‐Strop

et al. 2016

Journal of Clinical Virology

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Background Hepatitis B vaccine administered shortly after birth is highly effective in preventing mother to child transmission (MTCT) of infection. While hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in Haiti as part of a combined pentavalent vaccine in 2012, a birth dose is not yet included in the immunization schedule. Objectives Determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among pregnant women to evaluate the risk of MTCT. Study design We selected 1364 residual serum specimens collected during a 2012 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sentinel serosurvey among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics. Haiti was stratified into two regions: West, which includes metropolitan Port-au-Prince, and non-West, which includes all other departments. We evaluated the association between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and HIV infection with HBV infection. Results Of 1364 selected specimens, 1307 (96%) were available for testing. A total of 422 specimens (32.7%) tested positive for total anti-HBc (38.2% in West vs. 27% in non-West, p < 0.001), and 33 specimens (2.5%) were HBsAg positive (2.1% in West vs. 3% in non-West, p = 0.4). Of HBsAg positive specimens, 79% had detectable HBV DNA. Women aged 30 and older had more than double the odds of positive total anti-HBc than women aged 15–19 years (p < 0.001). Women with secondary (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36–0.81) and post-secondary education (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19–0.79) had lower odds of total anti-HBc positivity compared with women with no education. HIV-status was not associated with HBV infection. Conclusions Haiti has an intermediate endemicity of chronic HBV infection with high prevalence of positive HBV DNA among chronically infected women. Introduction of a universal birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine might help prevent perinatal HBV transmission.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Haiti: A cross-sectional serosurvey

Tohme

Andre-Alboth

Tejada‐Strop

et al. 2016

Journal of Clinical Virology

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“…Myanmar genotype C has been identified as the predominant genotype, both amongst local residents and those migrating from Myanmar. 8,15,16 Genotype C is associated with a later seroconversion from Hepatitis B e-Antigen (HBeAg) positive status to HBeAg negative, anti-HBe positivity and more advanced liver disease. 17 Other studies however, have focused on populations such as from Korea with largely genotype C2, and it is unknown if this is also the case with genotype C1.…”

Section: Withinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within Myanmar genotype C has been identified as the predominant genotype, both amongst local residents and those migrating from Myanmar . Genotype C is associated with a later seroconversion from Hepatitis B e‐Antigen (HBeAg) positive status to HBeAg negative, anti‐HBe positivity and more advanced liver disease .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B among immigrants from Myanmar: Genotypes and their clinical relevance

Schulz

Edwards

Thurnheer

et al. 2017

Journal of Medical Virology

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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) from 76 adult immigrants in Australia from Myanmar was characterized to determine the prevalence of different HBV genotypes and subgenotypes. A mutational analysis was then performed to determine the presence of clinically significant mutations and correlate them to clinical outcomes. Initial genotyping revealed 68 patients with genotype C (89.5%) and eight patients with genotype B (10.5%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the large majority of the genotype C infections were of subgenotype C1 (67/68). Sequencing of the HBV polymerase gene (and overlapping surface gene) revealed no mutations associated with antiviral resistance. HBV surface gene mutations were detected in 10 patients with subgenotype C1. HBV BCP/PC sequencing was obtained for 71/76 (93%) patients. BCP and/or PC mutations were identified in 57/71 (80%) of PCR positive patients. Treatment had been commenced for 15/76 (18%) patients, a further 26 untreated patients were in a stage of disease where HBV treatment would be considered standard of care. It was identified that genotype C1 is the predominant sub-genotype in this population. Genotype C is known to be associated with increased risk of development of HCC. This highlights the need for screening for HCC given the potential for the development of liver cancer. It was also identified that people with HBV were potentially not receiving optimal therapy in a timely fashion.

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“…In a study looking at the prevalence of active hepatitis C virus infections among refugees in the United States of America from various countries in Africa and Asia, it was reported that 63 out of a total of 4890 (1.1%) were positive for HCV RNA. The refugees from Thailand had greater numbers of HCV-positive samples than refugees from other countries [19]. In Lebanon, among the Syrian refugees, the number of reported cases of Hepatitis C doubled from a total of four cases in 2013 to eight cases in 2016 [18], a trend similar to hepatitis B.…”

Section: Hepatitis Cmentioning

confidence: 85%

Communicable Diseases Among Refugees with a Focus on the Middle East

Hussein¹,

Mortada²,

Geagea³

2017

Fundamentals of Sexually Transmitted Infections

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During the past few years, millions of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa fled their countries to almost everywhere in the globe. Civil wars and acts of violence are the main reasons behind the exodus of populations seeking a better life and more secure living conditions. In fact, the current conflict in Syria and Iraq led to massive influx of refugees worldwide and in particular to neighboring countries of the Middle East. This refugee situation is unparalleled since the end of World War II. Besides the individual tragedies of refugees, a public health disaster is being witnessed in the countries of origin which, in many instances, affect the hosting countries as well. Many of these hosting countries witnessed a re-emergence of numerous communicable diseases as a result of the influx of refugees; they were unprepared, and their health sectors did not deliver the adequate response. In this chapter, we review major sexually transmitted diseases in refugees, with a focus on the Middle East. We also discuss the major actions taken in response to the ongoing displacement of refugees by the Government of Lebanon and suggest solutions and recommendations to the Lebanese public health system which is facing new urgent challenges.

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Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections in United States-Bound Refugees from Asia and Africa

Cited by 50 publications

References 28 publications

Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Haiti: A cross-sectional serosurvey

Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Haiti: A cross-sectional serosurvey

Hepatitis B among immigrants from Myanmar: Genotypes and their clinical relevance

Communicable Diseases Among Refugees with a Focus on the Middle East

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