title: Detection of hepatitis B virus in the cerumen of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate hepatitis B virus DNA in the cerumen of hepatitis B virus infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised 30 confirmed cases of chronic hepatitis B. Patients' serum samples were examined for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies using enzyme immunoassay systems. The presence of hepatitis B virus DNA in cerumen was investigated using a polymerase chain reaction test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the samples were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and negative for hepatitis B surface antibodies. Hepatitis virus DNA was detected in two cerumen samples (6.6 per cent of patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cerumen can be a potential source of transmission of hepatitis B virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eftekharian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moghaddasi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gachkar
authors.forename: S S A
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Amlashi
mesh_terms: D002571:Cerumen / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral