title: Studies on hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in Nauru. II. Distribution amongst Gilbert and Ellice (Tuvalu) islanders.
abstract: The age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody was studied in a random sample of Gilbert and Ellice islanders over the age of 10 years living in Nauru. While approximately 82% of each group showed evidence of past infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) the carriage rate of HBsAg was significantly lower in the Polynesian Ellice islanders (7.5%) than in the Micronesian Gilbertese (26.3%) and indigenous Nauruans (14.7%). These findings suggest that Micronesian and Polynesian populations may differ in the response to infection with HBV.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010139:Pacific Islands; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens