TY - JOUR
TI - A comparison of hepatitis B seroepidemiology in ten European countries
AU - Nardone, A.
AU - Anastassopoulou, C. G.
AU - Theeten, H.
AU - Kriz, B. and
AU - Davidkin, I.
AU - Thierfelder, W.
AU - O'Flanagan, D.
AU - Bruzzone, B. and
AU - Mossong, J.
AU - Boot, H. J.
AU - Butur, D.
AU - Slacikova, M.
AU - Panait,
AU - M. L. C.
AU - Hellenbrand, W.
AU - De Melker, H.
AU - Sobotova, Z. and
AU - Icardi, G.
AU - Andrews, N.
AU - Pebody, R. G.
AU - Van Damme, P. and
AU - Kafatos, G.
AU - Miller, E.
AU - Hatzakis, A.
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
PY - 2009
VL - 137
TODO - 7
SP - 961-969
PB - Cambridge University Press
SN - 0950-2688, 1469-4409
TODO - 10.1017/S0950268808001672
TODO - Europe; hepatitis B; serology; vaccination
TODO - To inform current and future vaccination strategies, we describe the
seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in ten
representative European countries using standardized serology that
allowed international comparisons. Between 1996 and 2003, national serum
banks were compiled by collecting residual sera or by community
sampling; sera were then tested by each country using its preferred
enzyme immunoassays and testing algorithm, and assay results were
standardized. Information on current and past HBV vaccination programmes
in each country was also collected. Of the ten countries, six reported
low levels (<3%) of antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc). Of
the eight countries testing for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), the highest
prevalence was reported in Romania (5.6%) and in the remaining seven
countries prevalence was <1%. Universal HBV vaccination programmes had
been established in seven countries as recommended by the World Health
Organization, but the seroprevalence of antibodies against HBsAg
(anti-HBs) was lower than the reported vaccine coverage in three
countries. Regular serological surveys to ascertain HBV status within a
population, such as reported here, provide important data to assess the
need for and to evaluate universal HBV vaccination programmes.
ER -