title: Delta agent infection in Melbourne.
abstract: Evidence of infection with delta agent was sought in 284 patients with acute hepatitis B referred to Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, between July 1, 1981, and June 30, 1982 and in 127 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Acute and convalescent serum samples from the patients with acute hepatitis B and single or multiple sera from the HBsAg carriers were tested for delta antigen (delta ag) and/or antibody (anti-delta) by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA). Evidence of infection was detected in 14.4% of patients with acute hepatitis B and 7.1% of chronic HBsAg carriers. Eighty-eight percent of those in whom delta agent infection was demonstrated were intravenous drug users.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens