{
  "abstract": "Hepatitis B virus remains a major health challenge among migrants from high-endemic regions arriving in low-endemic countries like Italy. However, more evidence on both infection burden and immunity gaps among asylum seekers is needed to inform prevention policies. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 739 asylum seekers screened for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Modena, Northern Italy, between 2019 and 2023. Serological testing included quantitative determination of HBsAg, HBcAb, and HBsAb, allowing identification of active infection, natural immunity, vaccine-induced immunity, and susceptibility. Demographic characteristics, geographic origin, and migration routes were analyzed in relation to HBV status. Participants were predominantly male (94.7%), with a mean age of 27.2 years, and originated mainly from South Asia (59.4%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (26.1%). Overall HBsAg prevalence was 4.1%, substantially higher than what reported for the Italian general population (<1%). Prevalence was highest among Sub-Saharan African migrants (7.3%), who also showed the greatest proportion of natural immunity (36.3%), while South Asian migrants had a prevalence of 3.6% and Northern African migrants null. Among HBsAg-negative individuals, 57% were susceptible to HBV infection, particularly those from South Asia and Northern Africa. Susceptibility was associated with male sex (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.34-12.44) and age ≥25 years (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.40-4.04), consistent with birth before the introduction of universal HBV vaccination in many countries. Most HBsAg-positive individuals reported transit through Libya. Asylum seekers in Italy show a high prevalence of HBV infection alongside substantial immunity deficits. Systematic screening and targeted catch-up vaccination should be prioritized within migrant health services as a key public health intervention.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.",
    "Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.",
    "Public Hygiene Service, Department of Public Health, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.",
    "Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.",
    "School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Riccardo Mazzoli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lucia Borsari"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maria La Torre"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Zaynalabedin Kahfian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Alessandra Fantuzzi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Marco Vinceti",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0551-2473"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Annalisa Bargellini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Tommaso Filippini",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2100-0344"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stefania Paduano",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3640-9177"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1000ymar8j256.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckag188",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13686764",
  "id": "1000ymar8j256",
  "issns": [
    "1101-1262",
    "1464-360X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907096",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Hepatitis B Virus Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223136536",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13686764?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13686764",
  "pmid": "42907096",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1000ymar8j256.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42907096",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907096"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2713|Hepatitis B Virus Studies",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Hepatitis B screening among asylum seekers: a retrospective cohort study in Modena, Northern Italy.",
  "title_text": "Hepatitis B screening among asylum seekers: a retrospective cohort study in Modena, Northern Italy.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1000ymar8j256",
  "venue": "European journal of public health",
  "versions": []
}