The Global Prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 Infections among Immigrants and Refugees-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and 2) infections among immigrants and refugees worldwide. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were searched for studies published from their inception to 6 January 2023. A meta-analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with a random effect was performed for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2.

Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: the unequal burden of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in the Brazilian Central-West.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify social factors and preventive strategies associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in socio and economically vulnerable people (recyclable waste pikers, immigrants/refugees, and homeless people) in Goiânia, Goiás State, Central-Western Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to October 2020. COVID-19 positivity was defined as a positive total anti-SARS-COV-2 antibody test and/or RNA test for SARS-COV-2.

Cocaine/crack and cannabis use among transgender women in Goiás, Central Brazil.

Introduction: Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW).

Objective: To describe the consumption patterns of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and variables associated with their use in TGW in Central Brazil.

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/2 infection among prisoners of a major penitentiary complex of Goiás State, Central-West Brazil.

Introduction: Studies on human T-lymphotropic virus 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) infection are scarce in incarcerated population. Therefore, this study estimated the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among prisoners of the major penitentiary complex of Goiás State, Central-West Brazil, comparing it with available data from other Brazilian regions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 910 prisoners of the major penitentiary complex in the State of Goiás, Central-West Brazil.

Hepatitis E Prevalence in Vulnerable Populations in Goiânia, Central Brazil.

A transversal study was conducted among 472 vulnerable individuals (recyclable waste pickers, immigrants and refugees, homeless individuals, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual individuals) in Goiânia City, the capital of the State of Goiás, Brazil, to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. A total of 459 (97.2%) serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies using fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassays (Liaison Murex Anti-HEV IgG and IgM assays, DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy).

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/2 infection among immigrants and refugees in Central Brazil, an emerging vulnerable population.

Introduction: Migratory flows play a significant role in the spread of human T-lymphotropic virus 1/2 (HTLV-1/2). In the last decade, a substantial migration of individuals occurred from Haiti and Venezuela to Brazil. However, data on the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 infection among these international migrants in Brazil are scarce.

Prevalence of overt and occult hepatitis B virus infection among an incarcerated population of Central-Western Brazil.

Brazilian prison complexes are characterized by overcrowded cells and precarious conditions, leading to chronically low vacancy. Brazilian studies involving overt and occult infection (OBI) in this population are still scarce despite the vulnerability of people deprived of liberty to hepatitis B. Therefore, this study estimated the prevalence of HBV infection (overall and OBI) in individuals deprived of liberty in prisons in Central-Western Brazil.

Viral Hepatitis A, B and C in a Group of Transgender Women in Central Brazil.

Transgender women (TGW) have limited access to affordable viral hepatitis testing, hepatitis B vaccination, and treatment. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of viral hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as to compare the adherence and immunogenicity of two hepatitis B vaccine schedules among TGW in Central Brazil. A total of 440 TGW were interviewed and tested for hepatitis A, B, and C serological markers from 2017 to 2018.

Hepatitis A and E among immigrants and refugees in Central Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) among immigrants and refugees in Goiás, Central Brazil.

Methods: Overall, 355 individuals were interviewed, and blood samples were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG. Anti-HEV-positive samples were similarly tested for HEV RNA.

Epidemiological and Molecular Characteristics of HIV-1 Infection in a Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Brazil: Phylogeography of Major Subtype B and F1 Transmission Clusters.

This study describes human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) prevalence, associated factors, viral genetic diversity, transmitted drug resistance (TDR), and acquired drug resistance mutations (DRM) among a population of 522 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited by the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method, in Goiânia city, the capital of the State of Goiás, Central-Western Brazil. All serum samples were tested using a four-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and reactive samples were confirmed by immunoblotting. Plasma RNA or proviral DNA was extracted, and partial () gene including the protease/reverse transcriptase (PR/RT) region was amplified and sequenced.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection and syphilis among homeless people in a large city of Central-Western Brazil: prevalence, risk factors, human immunodeficiency virus-1 genetic diversity, and drug resistance mutations.

Homeless people are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and syphilis. We investigated the epidemiology of HIV-1 infection and syphilis among homeless individuals in a large city in Central-Western Brazil. In this cross-sectional study, we interviewed and tested 355 individuals from September 2014 to August 2015.

Author Correction: Hepatitis B: changes in epidemiological features of Afro-descendant communities in Central Brazil.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Hepatitis B: changes in epidemiological features of Afro-descendant communities in Central Brazil.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a concern in vulnerable populations. In a study performed by our team in 1999-2003 in two Afro-Brazilian communities, Furnas dos Dionísios (FD) and São Benedito (SB), high prevalence rates of HBV exposure (42.7% and 16.

Molecular and epidemiological aspects of hepatitis C virus infection among crack cocaine users.

The aim is to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes/subtypes among crack users in-treatment in Central Brazil. A cross-sectional survey in which 600 in-treatment crack users were interviewed and tested for anti-HCV Ab by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted between August 2012 and April 2013. Anti-HCV-positive samples were also submitted for HCV RNA detection by polymerase chain reaction.

Hepatotropic viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D and E) in a rural Brazilian population: prevalence, genotypes, risk factors and vaccination.

Background: People living in settlement projects represent an emergent rural population in Brazil. Data on their health is scarce and there are no data on viral hepatitis in this population. This study investigated the epidemiology of viral hepatitis A-E in residents of settlement projects in central Brazil.

Hepatitis C prevalence among men who have sex with men in Central Brazil.

To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Central Brazil, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the City of Goiânia, Central Brazil, using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). All serum samples were tested for anti-HCV and also for alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Anti-HCV positive samples and/or those with elevated ALT were tested for HCV RNA and genotyped.

Reconstruction of the spatial and temporal dynamics of hepatitis B virus genotype D in the Americas.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype D (HBV/D) is globally widespread, and ten subgenotypes (D1 to D10) showing distinct geographic distributions have been described to date. The evolutionary history of HBV/D and its subgenotypes, for which few complete genome sequences are available, in the Americas is not well understood. The main objective of the current study was to determine the full-length genomic sequences of HBV/D isolates from Brazil and frequency, origin and spread of HBV/D subgenotypes in the Americas.

Rodent-borne viruses survey in rural settlers from Central Brazil.

Anthropogenic environmental changes arising from settlement and agriculture include deforestation and replacement of natural vegetation by crops providing opportunities for pathogen spillover from animals to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of rodent-borne virus infections in seven rural settlements from Midwestern Brazil. Of the 466 individuals tested 12 (2.

Epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C among manual cane cutters in low-income regions of Brazil.

Background: In recent decades the epidemic of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections has extended deep into Brazil, including small towns and rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV), and to evaluate immunization coverage against hepatitis B in a group of rural workers in Brazil.

Methods: In 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 937 manual sugarcane cutters of the Midwest and Northeast Regions of Brazil.

Decline in hepatitis B and C prevalence among hemodialysis patients in Tocantins, Northern Brazil.

Infection control measures have been responsible for a decline in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in hemodialysis patients. In Brazil, these measures have been in place since 1996. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current HBV and HCV epidemiology among hemodialysis patients in the State of Tocantins comparing them with those found 14 years ago.

HIV-1 infection among crack cocaine users in a region far from the epicenter of the HIV epidemic in Brazil: Prevalence and molecular characteristics.

Brazil has the largest cocaine market in South America, and crack cocaine use is closely associated with HIV-1 infection. This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and HIV-1 subtypes, including recombinant forms and mutations associated with drug resistance, among crack cocaine users in Central-West Brazil. We recruited 600 crack cocaine users admitted to a referral hospital in Goiânia for psychiatric disorders.

HTLV-1 and -2 in a first-time blood donor population in Northeastern Brazil: Prevalence, molecular characterization, and evidence of intrafamilial transmission.

Independent epidemiology for respective human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types 1 and 2 is little known in blood donors in Brazil, where screening for HTLV-1/2 is mandatory at blood banks, but no testing to confirm/differentiate these viruses. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of HTLV-1 and -2 in a first-time blood donor population in Northeastern Brazil and to carry out molecular characterization of respective isolates. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the State Blood Bank in Piauí.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus RNA and antibodies in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients in Central Brazil.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA and antibodies among kidney transplant recipients (KTR) in Central Brazil. The presence of chronic HEV infection was also investigated.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted among 316 KTR treated at a referral center for kidney transplantation in Goiânia, Brazil.

Hepatitis E seroprevalence and associated factors in rural settlers in Central Brazil.

Introduction: Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and associated factors were investigated in rural settlements in Central Brazil.

Methods: A total of 464 settlers were interviewed, and serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG/IgM. Positive samples were tested for HEV RNA.