Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, and hepatitis B virus DNA in parotid tissues.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in parotid tissues from patients with positive serum HBV markers.


METHODS
HBsAg and HBcAg were examined in parotid biopsy tissues from patients with suspected parotid tumor and positive serum HBV markers by immunocytochemistry, and HBV DNA was detected in parotid tissues by PCR.


RESULTS
Among the 22 patients with a parotid tumor, only one was pathologically confirmed as a neoplasm; all others were benign. HBsAg and HBcAg were present in parotid cells with positive rates of 45.5% (10/22) and 40.9% (9/22), respectively, with an overall positive rate of 54.5% (12/22). Of the 22 cases with serum markers of HBV infection, seven (31.8%) had both HBsAg and HBcAg in the parotid cells. HBV DNA was present in seven of the 12 samples in which hepatitis B antigen was detected (58.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
HBV in saliva might originate from the infected salivary glands and the infectious saliva could transmit HBV.
School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Lizhang
L
Chen
Fuqiang
F
Liu
Xuegong
X
Fan
Jianming
J
Gao
Nengzhi
N
Chen
Tom
T
Wong
Jun
J
Wu
Shi Wu
SW
Wen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens