Hepatitis A and B: serologic survey of human and nonhuman primate sera.
Sera of humans and seven species of nonhuman primates were tested by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay for the presence of hepatitis A antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. The outcome of testing a total of 276 serum or plasma specimens was as follows: with the exception of squirrel monkeys (0%) and cotton-top marmosets (0%), a considerable percentage of all other species tested had detectable antibodies to hepatitis A virus: humans 45.9%, chimpanzees 36.6%, baboons 38.2%, vervets 57.9%, cebus monkeys 40.0% and common marmosets 50.0%. Only one human and two chimpanzees were carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. Antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen were detected in human (11.3%), chimpanzees (29.9%), baboons (36.2%) and squirrel monkeys (5%). Chimpanzees showed an increasing prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B surface antigen with age.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002144:Callithrix / Q000276:immunology; D002521:Cercopithecus / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000276:immunology; D010215:Papio / Q000276:immunology; D011323:Primates / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens