Dados do Trabalho

Título

Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Japanese Immigrants and Descendants

Introdução

Hepatitis C is a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide. As Brazil has received immigrants from Japan since 1908, approximately 1.5 million Japanese descendants live in this country, which is considered the largest amount of Japanese people outside Japan.

Objetivo (s)

The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Japanese immigrants and their descendants living in São Paulo – SP and the occurrence of hepatitis C and coinfection with HTLV-1.

Material e Métodos

This was a cross-sectional study with quantitative approach that used database and biological sample bank from previous studies that were conducted in São Paulo (SP - Southeast). All samples (n = 2,127) were subjected to detection of serological marker of HCV infection (anti-HCV) using electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA); for anti-HCV positive samples, HTLV-1 was investigated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Resultados e Conclusão

Analyzes of 2127 samples from the studied population residing in São Paulo - SP demonstrate that 14 samples were reagent for anti-HCV (these samples were retested to confirm the result), the majority of the population was of the female sex (59.8%), descended from Okinawa (87.54%), with ages varying from 6 to 92 years (median of 56 years). The prevalence rate of HCV exposure was 0.66% (CI 95%: 0.39% - 1.11%) and coinfection with HTLV-1 was not observed in this population group. Despite the low prevalence rate of HCV infection observed in the group studied, Hepatitis C strategies of educational measures to control this infection should be considered; this study also highlights the importance of promoting investigation of infectious diseases in immigrant populations as a whole.

Palavras-chave

Hepatitis C; epidemiology; seroprevalence.

Agradecimentos

Governo do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Secretaria de Estado de Saúde, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública de Mato Grosso do Sul, Instituto de Medicina Tropical da USP, Fiocruz and Fiocruz Mato Grosso do Sul.