Infectiousness of HBsAg carriers in Malaysia.
HBV-DNA were analysed in 330 HBsAg-positive carriers in Malaysia by dot-blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Seventy-three (22.12%) were positive for the virus. Of these, 65 (89%) were males and 8 (11%) were females. Statistically, there was no significant difference (P = 0.13). No significant decline in HBV-DNA with age in the Malay and Chinese males was observed (P = 0.2). Prevalence of HBV-DNA was higher in the Chinese carriers than in the Malay carriers for most age groups in both sexes. Sixty-one HBV-DNA-positive carriers were also positive for HBeAg. However, three individuals were positive only for anti-HBe, one was positive for both HBeAg and anti-HBe, and eight were negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. Fifty-seven were positive for HBeAg but negative for HBV-DNA. No relation was observed between raised alanine aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransaminase levels and the presence of HBV-DNA (P = 0.4).
Ton
S H
SH
Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Universiti Kebangsaan Malayasia, Kuala Lumpur.
Yeoh
K S
KS
Lim
W C
WC
Noriah
R
R
Cheong
S K
SK
Thanaletchimy
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens