title: Antigenic subtypes of HBsAg: their distribution and pattern of occurence among blood donors and patients with liver diseases and leprosy in Tamilnadu, India.
abstract: One hundred and seventy hepatitis B Surface antigen positive sera derived from blood donors, patients with liver diseases and leprosy were antigenically subtyped by Rheophoresis and 107 of them by agar-gel diffusion. For the first time in India HBsAg/adr as a predominant subtype (64.0%) is documented. Of the two methods adopted, Rheophoresis showed a greater sensitivity of typing, namely 82.3% in contrast to 39.2% only by agar-gel diffusion (p less than 0.001). Analysis of the Hepatitis Be antigen and antibody (anti HBe) positive sera for subtype predeliction revealed the same pattern as in HBe system negative sera.
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens