Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,768 studies31 sourcesUpdated 13 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0BMC Infectious Diseases

National HBsAb serosurvey and HBsAg/Hepatitis D coinfection prevalence across sociodemographic and immigrant populations in Israel

  • Gozlan Yael1
  • Asraf Keren2
  • Keinan-Boker Lital3,4
  • Arami S. Shoshana1
  • Picard Orit5
  • Mor Orna6
  • Bassal Ravit3,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
  2. 2The Dworman Automated-Mega Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat- Gan, Israel
  3. 3Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
  4. 4School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
  5. 5Gastroenterology Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, 52621 Israel
  6. 6Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Read full textDOICite

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global health burden despite widespread vaccination efforts. This nationwide serosurvey aimed to assess Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) seropositivity in Israel and HBV/ Hepatitis D virus (HDV) prevalence among immigrant populations, in the context of universal HBV vaccination introduced nationally in 1992.

Methods: A representative sample of 2,423 individuals was collected in 2023, and screened for HBsAb. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was assessed in additional 1,000 samples of selected immigrant populations, and positive samples were screened for HDV. Data were analyzed by age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Results: Overall HBsAb seropositivity was 42.8% (95% CI: 40.9–44.8%). HBsAb seropositivity was significantly higher in individuals born after in or after 1992 compared to those born before (49.2% vs. 36.0%, p < 0.0001). Significant disparities were observed: lower socioeconomic status and peripheral residency were associated with lower HBsAb seropositivity (compared to high SES: OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29–1.78; and Central residency: OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23–2.09). Ethnic differences were prominent, with Jews and other minorities population showing higher rates in younger cohorts, while Arab population had higher rates in older populations. HBsAg prevalence was high (9%) among immigrants from Ethiopia as well as from Ukraine, with HDV coinfection detection in 8.2% of HBsAg carriers from Africa.

Conclusions: While vaccination program has been effective, significant HBsAb and HBsAg seroprevalence gaps persist in the adult population and specific socio-demographic groups., Screening strategies should be considered, particularly for high-risk immigrants and specific immigrant populations.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2.

Related

  1. Prevalence and functional impact of musculoskeletal pain among university students in seven Arab countries and its sociodemographic and lifestyle associations
    Ahmed Amir Samir, Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry, Ahmed Farghaly Tawfik +16
    Scientific ReportsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textPharmacology & toxicologyCrossref
  2. Prevalence of screening markers for HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis and associated factors among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
    Muluken Kassahun Geremew, Mulugeta Shegaze Shimbre, Ashenafi Tazebew Amare +1
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Epidemiology & public healthCrossref
  3. Prevalence and determinants of hepatitis B vaccination uptake among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    Ismail Bamidele Afolabi, J Craig Phillips, Darine El-Chaâr +2
    BMJ OpenPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0General medicineCrossref
  4. Geospatial and sociodemographic disparities in HIV prevalence and HIV status unawareness among men in Zimbabwe using ZIMPHIA 2020 data
    Ellen D. Mukwekwerere, Ellen Wakisa Nyasulu Chiwoni, Elizabeth Nakiyingi +4
    Discover Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textInfectious diseaseDOAJ
  5. Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection and Treatment Initiation Following Dried Blood Spot Testing in New South Wales, Australia
    Annabelle Stevens, Anna Conway, Nigel Carrington +10
    Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the LiverPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yael2026national,
  title = {{National HBsAb serosurvey and HBsAg/Hepatitis D coinfection prevalence across sociodemographic and immigrant populations in Israel}},
  author = {Gozlan Yael and Asraf Keren and Keinan-Boker Lital and Arami S. Shoshana and Picard Orit and Mor Orna and Bassal Ravit},
  journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - National HBsAb serosurvey and HBsAg/Hepatitis D coinfection prevalence across sociodemographic and immigrant populations in Israel
AU  - Gozlan Yael
AU  - Asraf Keren
AU  - Keinan-Boker Lital
AU  - Arami S. Shoshana
AU  - Picard Orit
AU  - Mor Orna
AU  - Bassal Ravit
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/12
JO  - BMC Infectious Diseases
DO  - 10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2
AB  - Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global health burden despite widespread vaccination efforts. This nationwide serosurvey aimed to assess Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) seropositivity in Israel and HBV/ Hepatitis D virus (HDV) prevalence among immigrant populations, in the context of universal HBV vaccination introduced nationally in 1992.  Methods: A representative sample of 2,423 individuals was collected in 2023, and screened for HBsAb. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was assessed in additional 1,000 samples of selected immigrant populations, and positive samples were screened for HDV. Data were analyzed by age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.  Results: Overall HBsAb seropositivity was 42.8% (95% CI: 40.9–44.8%). HBsAb seropositivity was significantly higher in individuals born after in or after 1992 compared to those born before (49.2% vs. 36.0%, p < 0.0001). Significant disparities were observed: lower socioeconomic status and peripheral residency were associated with lower HBsAb seropositivity (compared to high SES: OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29–1.78; and Central residency: OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23–2.09). Ethnic differences were prominent, with Jews and other minorities population showing higher rates in younger cohorts, while Arab population had higher rates in older populations. HBsAg prevalence was high (9%) among immigrants from Ethiopia as well as from Ukraine, with HDV coinfection detection in 8.2% of HBsAg carriers from Africa.  Conclusions: While vaccination program has been effective, significant HBsAb and HBsAg seroprevalence gaps persist in the adult population and specific socio-demographic groups., Screening strategies should be considered, particularly for high-risk immigrants and specific immigrant populations.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14403-2.
SN  - 1471-2334
ER  -