HBV-DNA as marker of hepatitis B virus infection in autochtho- nous and foreign population of the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Immuno-Haematology and Blood Transfusion Unit, AO “S. Maria”, Terni, Italy

Background. Italy has recently become land of immigration of people coming from geographical areas with high or medium endemia of Hepatitis B Virus. HBV-DNA shows the presence of that virus in blood.
Materials and Methods. The aim of this study is to value the prevalence of HBV-DNA in patients coming to the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Immuno-Haematology and Blood Transfusion Unit, AO “S. Maria”, Terni in 2012 focusing the areas of origin. HBV-DNA was analysed in 505 samples of plasma belonging to 328 individuals. The evaluation was related to sex and places of origin.
Results. Among the 328 individuals analysed, 149 were positive to HBV-DNA: 88 were Italian and 61 were foreigners. Male positivity to virus was higher than female. Nationality of origin were found for all the subjects except 2. Positive samples belong mostly to individuals from central Europe: 11 to Albania, 28 to Romania, 1 to Ukraine, 4 to Moldova, 1 to Bulgaria. 5 positive individuals were from Asia: 2 from Philippines and 3 from China. One positive man was French and 9 positive individuals were from Africa (Maghreb and Central Sub-Saharan Africa). Last positive individual was of unknown nationality.
Conclusions. The HBV prevalence among immigrants changes according to the geographical area of origin and it is higher in many other countries than Italy. Prevention and vaccination together with monitoring of HBV-DNA is strictly necessary for all the population autochthonous and not in this particular historical moment.