HTLV-I infection in selected populations in Australia and the western Pacific region.

The prevalence of infection with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in 19,975 blood samples from Australia and the western Pacific was determined by measuring the presence of specific antibody (anti-HTLV-I) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with confirmation by western blot and/or radioimmunoprecipitation techniques. In Australia no evidence of HTLV-I infection was found in injecting drug users, patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), subjects attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic, female prostitutes, or transfusion recipients. A low prevalence of infection was detected in people with haemophilia (0.

The increased risk of fatal liver disease in renal transplant patients who are hepatitis Be antigen and/or HBV DNA positive.

To determine whether active viral replication is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) undergoing renal transplantation, we reviewed 23 years of experience at our hospital. Over the period 1966-1989, 42 chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) received renal transplants, 32 of whom had functioning grafts for 12 months or longer. Stored sera were tested for markers of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection, and the serologic findings were correlated with clinical and biochemical data.

Humoral immune responses in mice using gamma inulin preparations as adjuvants for hepatitis B vaccines.

There is an urgent need for new, powerful adjuvants suitable for use with sub-unit and peptide vaccines in humans. We have measured the humoral immune response in BALB/c mice to vaccine formulations using recombinant HBsAg antigens, and gamma inulin and alum adjuvants. Using Merck, Sharpe & Dohme (MSD) HBsAg at 10 micrograms/mL, high levels of anti-HBs were generated and geometric mean S/N ratios of 88, 133 and 107 were obtained for alum absorbed vaccine, gamma inulin, and a mixture of the two adjuvants, respectively.

Control of HBV and HDV infection in an isolated Pacific Island: 1. Pattern of infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infections are known to be hyperendemic in Nauru. Because of the consequences of chronic HBV infection, the Nauruan Government has commenced a program that aims to reduce and eventually eliminate hepatitis B infection by immunizing susceptible adults and children on the island and every newborn baby. At the outset of this program, a national seroepidemiological survey was undertaken.

Factors affecting the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus among non-pregnant women in the Alexishafen area of Papua New Guinea.

The prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers was studied in 673 women of childbearing age in 17 villages (12 indigenous and five plantation villages) on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. Some 7.9% of women were HBsAg positive and 41.

Prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection in Malaysia.

The prevalence of coinfection, superinfection and chronic infection with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) was studied in 324 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive Malaysians. Of these, 10.0% (5/50) had coinfection, 5.

Hepatitis B infection in Vanuatu: age of acquisition of infection and possible routes of transmission.

Seroepidemiological studies of hepatitis B were carried out on diverse groups of children (477) and adults (629) from the Pacific Island country of Vanuatu. In children under 14 years, prevalences of HBsAg and of all markers were 6% and 53.3% respectively; in adults greater than or equal to 20 years the prevalences were 15% and 70%.

Low dose hepatitis B vaccination in children: benefit of low dose boosters.

Fifty eight children aged 5-12 years (mean 9.3 years) who had received three x 2 micrograms of Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) H-B-Vax intramuscularly at time 0, 1, 6 months were given a further 2 micrograms dose 12 months after dose 3 and tested for immune response two weeks later. Fifty seven of 58 children were positive for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) when tested by radioimmunoassay.

Immunogenicity of low doses of hepatitis B vaccine in children: a study in 650 New Zealand children.

Six hundred and fifty New Zealand children from 2-12 years of age were vaccinated three times with 2 mcg intramuscular (IM) doses of Merck Sharp and Dohme plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-Vax), at 0, 1, and 6 months, and tested 2-3 months later for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Overall, 96.5% of the children seroconverted for anti-HBs by RIA, having levels greater than 2.

Low-dose vaccination against hepatitis B in children: one-year follow-up.

Six hundred forty-three children, negative for markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, were given three X 2-micrograms doses of Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-Vax) at monthly intervals. Twelve months after the first dose of vaccine, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was detected in 89% of children by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and in 83% by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Seroconversion rates and anti-HBs titres were significantly greater in 1-4-year-olds than in older children (p less than 0.

Intramuscular versus low-dose intradermal hepatitis B vaccine. Assessment by humoral and cellular immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen.

The capacity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) vaccine (which was administered by the conventional intramuscular route or as a one-tenth dose by the intradermal route) to elicit an antibody or delayed-type hypersensitivity response to HBsAg was compared for 40 paired healthy subjects, 20 per group, of whom 38 completed the vaccination protocol. The 40 subjects were allocated at random to receive three doses of 20 micrograms of vaccine intramuscularly, or three doses of 2 micrograms of vaccine intradermally. Titres of antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) were expressed in a radioimmunoassay by sample ratio (signal-to-noise) units (SRU).

Very-low-dose hepatitis B vaccine in newborn infants: an economic option for control in endemic areas.

Three 1 microgram or 2 micrograms doses of Merck, Sharp and Dohme plasma vaccine were given to 119 infants of mothers negative for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). Anti-HBs antibodies developed in 25/29 (86%) infants given 1 microgram and in 86/90 (96%) given 2 micrograms doses. Levels of anti-HBs achieved by three 2 micrograms doses were similar to those that have been reported for conventional 10 micrograms doses.

An outbreak of hepatitis B and D in butchers.

This report documents an outbreak of hepatitis B (HB) and hepatitis D (HD) in a group of butcher shop employees. During the 13-month period from September 1983 to October 1984, 8 employees from 2 establishments developed acute HB. Epidemiological investigation suggested that the first case, who was also an intravenous drug user, was the source of infection for other employees.

Detection of IgM antibodies to delta antigen after coinfection and superinfection with the delta virus.

A sensitive microtitre radioimmunoassay was developed for detection of IgM antibodies to delta antigen. The assay was based on the selective binding of IgM from test sera to antihuman IgM (u-chain specific) fixed to wells of a microtitre plate, and utilized delta antigen extracted from the liver of an experimentally infected chimpanzee. This test proved to be useful in distinguishing between coinfection and superinfection with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV).

Epidemiology of hepatitis D virus (delta) infection in Melbourne over a 15-year period.

The prevalence of delta infection was studied in 3986 individuals seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), who were seen in Melbourne between 1971 and 1985. The group comprised 2004 patients with acute hepatitis B, 1820 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, 139 HBsAg carriers with evidence of chronic liver disease, and 23 carriers who had suffered more than two separate attacks of acute hepatitis. Markers of delta infection were found almost exclusively among intravenous drug abusers and their close contacts.

Delta hepatitis in Malaysia.

Sera from one hundred and fifty nine Malaysian individuals were screened for the prevalence of delta markers. These included 15 HBsAg positive homosexuals, 16 acute hepatitis B cases, 9 chronic hepatitis B patients, 13 healthy HBsAg carriers and 106 intravenous (i.v.

Aetiology of acute hepatitis in Malaysia.

Icteric patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of liver disease, admitted into various hospitals in Malaysia, were investigated to determine the cause of their infection. Of these patients, 11.0% (16/145) were found positive for IgM anti-HAV (EIA), 4.

Prevalence of delta infection in the western Pacific region.

The prevalence of coinfection and superinfection with the delta agent was studied in 2,645 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive subjects from six countries and nine islands in the Western Pacific region. The study group comprised 262 patients with acute hepatitis B and 2,383 chronic carriers of HBsAg, of whom 278 were suffering from chronic liver disease or primary hepatocellular carcinoma. While major foci of infection were observed in Nauru, Niue, and Western Samoa, delta infection appears to be uncommon in other parts of the region.

Serological markers of hepatitis B infection in Niue children.

Hepatitis B infection is hyperendemic in the adult population of Niue. In order to determine the age at which infection is acquired and the contribution of vertical and horizontal transmission, the sera from 1055 children were tested for markers of hepatitis B infection. Eleven percent (11.

Detection of delta infection using reagents obtained from the serum of patients infected with HBV.

A microtitre solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) was developed for the detection of delta antigen (delta Ag) and antibody (anti-delta) using sera from subjects who had been infected with this agent as the source of antigen and antibody. The assay was compared with reference tests, which use delta antigen extracted from liver tissue obtained at autopsy, and found to be equally sensitive and specific.

Delta agent infection in Melbourne.

Evidence of infection with delta agent was sought in 284 patients with acute hepatitis B referred to Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, between July 1, 1981, and June 30, 1982 and in 127 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Acute and convalescent serum samples from the patients with acute hepatitis B and single or multiple sera from the HBsAg carriers were tested for delta antigen (delta ag) and/or antibody (anti-delta) by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA). Evidence of infection was detected in 14.

The effect of glucocorticoid hormones on release of HBsAg from PLC/PRF/5 (Alexander) hepatoma cells.

The glucocorticoid hormones dexamethasone, beta-methasone, and cortisone enhanced HBsAg release from PLC/PRF/5 cells by 40 per cent, 40 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, as compared to untreated controls. In the same experiments dexamethasone and betamethasone depressed the viable cell population by 20 per cent compared to the controls whereas cortisone had no significant effect. Immune electron microscope studies of the HBsAg material revealed no morphological differences compared to the control.