{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T02:39:13Z","timestamp":1792636753081,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792627200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":13,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>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\u2009years, 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 (&amp;lt;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\u201312.44) and age \u226525\u2009years (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.40\u20134.04), 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckag188","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T00:04:17Z","timestamp":1792627457000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Hepatitis B screening among asylum seekers: a retrospective cohort study in Modena, Northern Italy"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"36","author":[{"given":"Riccardo","family":"Mazzoli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"Borsari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Hygiene Service, Department of Public Health, AUSL Modena , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"La Torre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zaynalabedin","family":"Kahfian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Hygiene Service, Department of Public Health, AUSL Modena , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Fantuzzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Hygiene Service, Department of Public Health, AUSL Modena , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0551-2473","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Vinceti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health , Boston, MA,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Annalisa","family":"Bargellini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2100-0344","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tommaso","family":"Filippini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena,","place":["Italy"]},{"name":"School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley , Berkeley, CA,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3640-9177","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefania","family":"Paduano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and 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