Hepatitis A and E among immigrants and refugees in Central Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Costa e Silva, Grazielle Rosa da
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Martins, Thaynara Lorrane Silva, Silva, Carla de Almeida, Caetano, Karlla Antonieta Amorim, Carneiro, Megmar Aparecida dos Santos, Diniz e Silva, Bruno Vinicius, Pacheco, Leonora Rezende, Villar, Livia Melo, Paula, Vanessa Salete de, Martins, Regina Maria Bringel, Teles, Sheila Araújo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Saúde Pública
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistas.usp.br/rsp/article/view/197676
• topic: Refugees; Latin America; Hepatitis A, epidemiology; Hepatitis E, epidemiology; Seroepidemiologic Studies

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.