Summary
HBeAg/anti-HBe and Dane particle-associated DNA polymerase activity were detected in serum samples from 358 HBsAg asymptomatic carriers found during normal routine screening of 11,200 blood donors (HBsAg prevalence 3.1%). Since virus specific DNA polymerase activity and HBeAg seem to be associated in some way with hepatitis B virus infectivity and liver damage, 5% of the HBsAg carriers examined, as detected by the presence of HBeAg, and 9.5%, as shown by DNA polymerase activity, can be expected to have liver damage and a potential risk of transmitting hepatitis B to contacts. On the other hand, 48% of subjects were theoretically healthy and non-infective because of the presence of anti-HBe in their blood. The differentiation of groups of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, on the basis of these serological markers, may have important clinical and epidemiological implications.
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This work was supported by a grant (78.00344.84.115.5596) from theConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Roma, Italy.
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Zanetti, A., Ferroni, P., Bergamini, F. et al. Prevalence of HBeAg, anti-HBe and dane particle-associated DNA polymerase activity in asymptomatic carriers of HBsAgo . La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 9, 35–39 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02905025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02905025