title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in an institution for mentally retarded persons.
abstract: Sera from patients and employees of the Lynchburg Training School and Hospital were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen by complement fixation test and antibody against Hepatitis B surface antigen by radioimmunoprecipitation test. Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 20% of the Down's syndrome patients and 7 percent of the matched other retarded patients. Antibody against Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 40% of the Down's syndrome and 57% of the matched other retarded patients. Hepatitis B virus infection as measured by presence of either Hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody was similar in the Down's syndrome patients (59%) and the matched other retarded patients (63%). Male patients had a higher frequency of Hepatitis B surface antigen chronic carriers and a lower frequency of antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen than the female patients. No relationship between age at time of first institutionalization and prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection was demonstrated. However, it was observed that patients institutionalized at an earlier age were more likely to be housed in wards with a high frequency of Hepatitis B surface antigen. Increased length of institutionalization was associated with increased prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection. Antibody to Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected in 33% of the employees. Employees who worked on wards with a high frequency of Hepatitis B virus infection had a high frequency of Hepatitis B surface antibody (50%) whereas those working on wards with a low frequency of infection had a low frequency of Hepatitis B surface antibody (9%).
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000276:immunology*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012737:Sex Factors; D014768:Virginia
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens