Hepatitis B, C, and D and HIV infections among immigrants from Equatorial Guinea living in Spain

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Apr;88(4):789-94. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0319. Epub 2013 Jan 21.

Abstract

A total of 1,220 subjects from Equatorial Guinea living in Spain (median age = 41 years; 453 male and 767 female) was examined for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV), and D (HDV) viruses. Extracted RNA and DNA from the positive samples were used to quantify viral load. The prevalence of HIV antibodies, HCV RNA, and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was 10.8% (N = 132), 11.6% (N = 141), and 7.9% (N = 96), respectively. The most prevalent HIV variant was CRF02_AG (38.5%; N = 40). HCV genotype 4 (60%; N = 36) and HBV genotype A3 (32%; N = 8) were the hepatitis variants most frequently found. Superinfection with HDV was seen in 20.9% (N = 24) of HBsAg carriers. A control group of 276 immigrants from other sub-Saharan countries showed similar rates of HIV and HBsAg, although no HCV cases were found. Immigrants constitute a major source of HIV and hepatitis viruses in Spain; therefore, it is important that control measures are intensified.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Coinfection / diagnosis
  • Coinfection / ethnology
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Equatorial Guinea / ethnology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / ethnology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / ethnology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / virology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / ethnology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Hepatitis D / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis D / ethnology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • Viral Load
  • Viremia / ethnology
  • Viremia / virology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hepatitis Antibodies