HBV AND HCV INFECTION AMONG NON-EUROPEAN UNION IMMIGRANTS IN NORTHEAST ITALY

The status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infe ction among non-European Union (non-EU) immigrants in North-East Italy was evaluated. Among the 1683 individuals tested the prevalence of HB sAg was 8.9 % (150 subjects) and of HBV antibodies (anti-HBc with/with out anti-HBs) was 38.9 % (654 subjects). The distribution of HBV serol ogical markers showed significant differences according to region of o rigin; the highest prevalence of infection (76.9 %) and carriage (16.1 %) was found in immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Among the 933 ind ividuals screened for HCV infection, prevalence of antibody was much l ower (0.9 %) than that observed in the Italian general population (3.2 -12.6 %). The large number of HBV carriers among immigrants could incr ease the number of new adult infections due to life-style habits or pr ofessional risks in the host population. In contrast, the risk of HCV spread from non-EU immigrants is very low.