SUBDETERMINANTS <italic>d</italic> AND <italic>y</italic> OF HEPATITIS B ANTIGEN AS EPIDEMIOLOGIC MARKERS<xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1"><sup>1</sup></xref>

Abstract

Mosley, J. W. (John Wesley Hospital, 2826 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90007), V. M. Edwards, J. E. Meihaus and A. G. Redeker. Sub-determinants d and y of hepatitis B antigen as epidemiologic markers. Am J Epidemiol 95: 529–535, 1972.—A simple Ouchterlony technique for the mutually exclusive d and y subdeterminants of hepatitis B antigen has been applied to selected specimens to investigate whether these antigenic subtypes are derived from the host or the strains of virus. Four y+ infections produced y+ disease in seven genetically related household contacts; likewise, three d+ and 13 y+ index cases gave rise to the consistent subtype in 16 secondary cases among genetically unrelated persons. Further, in a hemodialysis unit in which intra-unit transmission rather than transfusion was suspected as a source of hepatitis B antigen-positive cases, y+ infections were observed in all 23 dialysis patients, all 13 medical-paramedical persons, and all 5 household contacts with specimens available for typing. This result differed significantly from the frequency of y+ infection among other transfused patients (44%) and other medical-paramedical personnel (61%). It is concluded that the d and y subdeterminants are characteristic of the viral strain, and useful as indices of epidemiologic relationship.