title: Serologic markers of hepatitis A and B in the population of Bali, Indonesia.
abstract: A total of 343 sera from Balinese subjects in different age groups and geographic locations were tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for serum antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc); most sera were also tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). One hundred percent of the adult population was found to have anti-HAV, with antibody acquisition beginning in early childhood and reaching a level of 95% by the age of 10 years. Antibodies to hepatitis B virus were also frequent in young children, rapidly peaking to near 80% in older children and adolescents, then declining to a plateau that fluctuated between 40% and 60% throughout adult life. Overall, anti-HBc (49%) was detected slightly more often than anti-HBs (45%), but the relative frequencies of the 2 antibodies varied considerably from group to group. Despite these high antibody prevalences, HBsAg was detected in only 1.5% of the general population, and in no woman of child-bearing age. In utero infection is thus far less likely to account for the early acquisition of antibody to hepatitis B virus than inapparent percutaneous transmission occurring under conditions of close personal contact.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breguet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smallwood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ney
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Moerdowo
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gerety
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens