Premium
Population‐based study on the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, and C virus infection in Amsterdam, 2004
Author(s) -
Baaten G.G.G.,
Sonder G.J.B.,
Dukers N.H.T.M.,
Coutinho R.A.,
Van den Hoek J.A.R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21009
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , medicine , population , virology , hepatitis b , hepatitis a , immunology , immigration , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis , viral hepatitis , antibody , demography , virus , environmental health , serology , geography , archaeology , sociology
In order to enhance screening and preventive strategies, this study investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, and C in the general adult urban population and in subgroups. In 2004, sera from 1,364 adult residents of Amsterdam were tested for viral markers. Sociodemographic characteristics were collected using a standardized questionnaire. For hepatitis A, 57.0% was immune. Of first‐generation immigrants from Turkey and Morocco, 100% was immune. Of all Western persons and second‐generation non‐Western immigrants, approximately half was still susceptible. For hepatitis B, 9.9% had antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) and 0.4% had hepatitis B surface antigen. Anti‐HBc seroprevalences were highest among first‐generation immigrants from Surinam, Morocco, and Turkey, and correlated with age at the time of immigration, and among men with a sexual preference for men. Seroprevalence among second‐generation immigrants was comparable to Western persons. The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies was 0.6%. In conclusion, a country with overall low endemicity for viral hepatitis can show higher endemicity in urban regions, indicating the need for differentiated regional studies and prevention strategies. More prevention efforts in cities like Amsterdam are warranted, particularly for hepatitis A and B among second‐generation immigrants, for hepatitis B among men with a sexual preference for men, and for hepatitis C. Active case finding strategies are needed for both hepatitis B and C. J. Med. Virol. 79:1802–1810, 2007. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.