title: The surface antigen (HBsAg) and the e-antigen (HBeAg) in Somalian patients with acute viral hepatitis.
abstract: Serum samples from 55 Somalian patients with acute viral hepatitis were examined for the presence of the surface antigen (HBsAG) and the e-antigen (HBeAg) and the corresponding antibodies (anti-HBs and anti-e). No e-antigen was detected in patients with viral hepatitis or in controls (47 cases); anti-e was found in 23.6% of hepatitis cases, all of whom were HBsAg carriers, and in 10% of the controls. The HBsAg was found in 60% of cases with hepatitis and 34% of controls; the anti-HBs was detected in 18% of the patients with hepatitis, all except one of whom were negative for HBsAg; in the one exception the HBsAg and anti-HBs were present simultaneously; the anti-HBs was found in 44.6% of controls. The frequency of serological evidence of hepatitis B infection (HBV) based on the presence of antigen/antibody HBs was 78.2% among patients with acute viral hepatitis; only 30% of these patients showed evidence of anti-e antibody.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012998:Somalia
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens