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Trends in hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Kelantan, Malaysia: a retrospective study

Yousuf R, Rapiaah M, Ahmed SA, Rosline H, Salam A, Selamah S, et al.

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2007 Nov;38(6):1070-4.
PMID: 18613548

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends in hepatitis B infection among blood donors attending the Transfusion Medicine Unit at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the results of HBsAg among blood donors for the years 2000 to 2004. During this period, 44,658 blood donors were studied. We noted that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection between regular and first time donors. There was also a decreasing trend noticed in both study groups. The mean prevalence was significantly different between first time (1.83%) and regular donors (0.45%) (p < 0.005). There is a need to improve public awareness programs to lower the incidence of hepatitis B infection in the general population and consequently first time blood donors. Future studies are also required to determine the trends and outcomes of these programs.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/isolation & purification
Hepatitis B: review of development from the discovery of the "Australia Antigen" to end of the twentieth Century

Yap SF

Malays J Pathol, 2004 Jun;26(1):1-12.
PMID: 16190102

"Parenteral" or "serum" hepatitis is known to have afflicted man for centuries. However, it was not until the mid-1960s that the causative agent of this infection, the hepatitis B virus, was discovered. Since then, the biology and the replication strategy of the virus, and the clinical features and the epidemiology of the hepatitis B infection have been determined. Knowledge about the virus and the infection it causes led to the development of firstly, a plasma-derived vaccine and later a recombinant vaccine for the prevention of the infection. Integration of the hepatitis B vaccine into newborn vaccination programmes on a worldwide basis represents a major step in the effort to eliminate this infectious disease and its complications. Laboratory tests are available for the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Therapies have been developed to halt the progress of the chronic infection in affected individuals. While these developments have resulted in a decrease of the frequency of infection in many countries, particularly those that have implemented universal immunization of newborns, the chronic infection remains a significant global problem. Worldwide, over 300 million individuals are infected and each year, an estimated 1 million persons die from chronic complications of the disease including hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic failure. The therapies currently available result in elimination of the virus in only a relatively small proportion of subjects and carry with it serious side effects. Geopolitical, economic and other factors hinder the vision of elimination of the infection through immunization programmes. Nevertheless, work continues to clarify further the underlying pathological mechanism of the infection, the host and viral factors that promote elimination or persistence of the virus in the human host. It is hoped that such investigations will reveal viral targets for the design of newer and potentially more effective drugs to treat the infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology*
Fulltext Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection among dental professionals

Vadivale M, Tan TC, Ong CN

Singapore Med J, 1992 Aug;33(4):367-9.
PMID: 1411666

Dental employees in government institutions in a State in Peninsular Malaysia were screened for exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1989. Almost all (96.8%) of the 217 employees responded. One quarter (24.8%) was positive for at least one serological markers to HBV; 2.4% had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 22.4% had anti-body to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The presence of HBsAg was unrelated to age, sex, ethnicity, geographical locality and occupations of the subjects. The prevalence of anti-HBs increased with age and was highest for ethnic Chinese (53.6%), followed by Indians (25%), compared to Malays (14.9%) (p less than 0.001) and were increased among dentists (53.1%) and assistant nurses (33.3%). The overall prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were similar to the situation in the community. However, dentists and their chairside assistant nurses, with a higher proportion of Chinese, had higher anti-HBs prevalences compared with that of the general population.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis*
Fulltext Doubly Spliced RNA of Hepatitis B Virus Suppresses Viral Transcription via TATA-Binding Protein and Induces Stress Granule Assembly

Tsai KN, Chong CL, Chou YC, Huang CC, Wang YL, Wang SW, et al.

J Virol, 2015 Nov;89(22):11406-19.
PMID: 26339052 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00949-15

The risk of liver cancer in patients infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and their clinical response to interferon alpha therapy vary based on the HBV genotype. The mechanisms underlying these differences in HBV pathogenesis remain unclear. In HepG2 cells transfected with a mutant HBV(G2335A) expression plasmid that does not transcribe the 2.2-kb doubly spliced RNA (2.2DS-RNA) expressed by wild-type HBV genotype A, the level of HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) was higher than that in cells transfected with an HBV genotype A expression plasmid. By using cotransfection with HBV genotype D and 2.2DS-RNA expression plasmids, we found that a reduction of pgRNA was observed in the cells even in the presence of small amounts of the 2.2DS-RNA plasmid. Moreover, ectopic expression of 2.2DS-RNA in the HBV-producing cell line 1.3ES2 reduced the expression of pgRNA. Further analysis showed that exogenously transcribed 2.2DS-RNA inhibited a reconstituted transcription in vitro. In Huh7 cells ectopically expressing 2.2DS-RNA, RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that 2.2DS-RNA interacted with the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and that nucleotides 432 to 832 of 2.2DS-RNA were required for efficient TBP binding. Immunofluorescence experiments showed that 2.2DS-RNA colocalized with cytoplasmic TBP and the stress granule components, G3BP and poly(A)-binding protein 1 (PABP1), in Huh7 cells. In conclusion, our study reveals that 2.2DS-RNA acts as a repressor of HBV transcription through an interaction with TBP that induces stress granule formation. The expression of 2.2DS-RNA may be one of the viral factors involved in viral replication, which may underlie differences in clinical outcomes of liver disease and responses to interferon alpha therapy between patients infected with different HBV genotypes.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism
Nucleotide sequence of precore region of hepatitis B virus DNA in HBsAg-positive carriers in Malaysia

Ton SH, Iskandar K, Noriah R, Thanaletchimy N

Scand. J. Infect. Dis., 1996;28(6):543-8.
PMID: 9060053

As most published studies on precore mutants have been carried out on isolates from patients with liver diseases, and it is unclear whether HBsAg carriers with viraemia in the absence of HBeAg are also generally infected by such mutants, it was decided to sequence the precore region in some HBV-DNA isolated from HBsAg-positive carriers. Precore sequences of HBV-DNA from 43 HBsAg carriers in Malaysia were studied. Three HBV subtypes were identified according to the nucleotide sequence of the precore region. Most of the carriers were found to be infected by the subtype adr. Mutations were detected in the precore regions. The most common conserved mutation was a silent mutation involving conversion from T to C (CCT to CCC) at position 1858 at codon 15 (proline). It was found that 4/43 (9.3%) had a mutation at the penultimate codon where TGG was changed to TAG. All 4 isolates with the TAG mutation had nt T at position 1858. Of the 4 carriers who were infected by these mutant viruses, 2 were coinfected with the wild type, 1 was infected only by a variant with the mutation at position 1896, while another was infected by a variant with mutations at positions 1896 and 1899. Three of the 4 were anti-HBe positive while 1 was HBeAg positive. Alanine aminotransaminase activities in all 4 carriers were normal. This study therefore demonstrated that variants with stop codons at the penultimate codon could be found in asymptomatic carriers in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood
Infectiousness of HBsAg carriers in Malaysia

Ton SH, Yeoh KS, Lim WC, Noriah R, Cheong SK, Thanaletchimy N

J Trop Med Hyg, 1995 Aug;98(4):277-80.
PMID: 7636926

HBV-DNA were analysed in 330 HBsAg-positive carriers in Malaysia by dot-blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Seventy-three (22.12%) were positive for the virus. Of these, 65 (89%) were males and 8 (11%) were females. Statistically, there was no significant difference (P = 0.13). No significant decline in HBV-DNA with age in the Malay and Chinese males was observed (P = 0.2). Prevalence of HBV-DNA was higher in the Chinese carriers than in the Malay carriers for most age groups in both sexes. Sixty-one HBV-DNA-positive carriers were also positive for HBeAg. However, three individuals were positive only for anti-HBe, one was positive for both HBeAg and anti-HBe, and eight were negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. Fifty-seven were positive for HBeAg but negative for HBV-DNA. No relation was observed between raised alanine aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransaminase levels and the presence of HBV-DNA (P = 0.4).

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood*
HBeAG and anti-HBe in the Malaysian population and in Malaysian prisoners

Ton SH, Lopez CG, Noriah R

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1983 Jun;14(2):252-4.
PMID: 6635764

The incidence of HBsAg in random blood donors was found to be twice that of the prisoner population. The anti-HBe however, was about twice that in the prisoners when compared with the random blood donors. Both the random blood donors and the prisoners had similar incidence of HBeAg. The percentage frequency of HBsAg positivity with anti-HBe positivity was also similar in both groups. The 18 normal non-blood donors did not have HBsAg, HBeAg or anti-HBe.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis
Prevalence of anti-HBc in Malaysian male blood donors and its correlation with DNA polymerase activity

Ton SH, Lopez CG, Hasnah H

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1979 Mar;10(1):1-6.
PMID: 483004

A study of Kuala Lumpur blood donors for HBsAG, anti-HBc and DNA polymeraes showed that 5.5% in the sample population was positive for HBsAG, 50.1% for anti-HBc and 10.1% for DNA polymerase activity. There was no significant difference of the HBsAG among the Malay, Chinese and Indian groups. However, a significant difference was observed for the anti-HBc and DNA polymerase activity between the Indian and the Malay/Chinese groups. Both analysis were significantly lower in the Indians but there was no significant difference between the Chinese and the Malays.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis
Display of hepatitis B virus PreS1 peptide on bacteriophage T7 and its potential in gene delivery into HepG2 cells

Tang KH, Yusoff K, Tan WS

J Virol Methods, 2009 Aug;159(2):194-9.
PMID: 19490973 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2009.03.015

Hepatitis B is a major public health problem worldwide which may lead to chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. An interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope protein, particularly the PreS1 region, and a specific cell surface receptor is believed to be the initial step of HBV infection through attachment to hepatocytes. In order to develop a gene delivery system, bacteriophage T7 was modified genetically to display polypeptides of the PreS1 region. A recombinant T7 phage displaying amino acids 60-108 of the PreS1 region (PreS1(60-108)) was demonstrated to be most effective in transfecting HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependant manner. The phage genome was recovered from the cell lysate and confirmed by PCR whereas the infectious form of the internalized phage was measured by a plaque-forming assay. The internalized phage exhibited the appearance of green fluorescent dots when examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Surface modification, particularly by displaying the PreS1(60-108) enhanced phage uptake, resulting in more efficient in vitro gene transfer. The ability of the recombinant phage to transfect HepG2 cells demonstrates the potential of the phage display system as a gene therapy for liver cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism*
A phage-displayed cyclic peptide that interacts tightly with the immunodominant region of hepatitis B surface antigen

Tan WS, Tan GH, Yusoff K, Seow HF

J Clin Virol, 2005 Sep;34(1):35-41.
PMID: 16087122

The surface antigen (HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly conformational and generally evokes protective humoral immune response in human. A disulfide constrained random heptapeptide library displayed on the coat protein III of filamentous bacteriophage M13 was employed to select specific ligands that interact with HBsAg subtype ad. Fusion phages carrying the amino acid sequence ETGAKPH and other related sequences were isolated. The binding site of peptide ETGAKPH was located on the immunodominant region of HBsAg. An equilibrium binding assay in solution showed that the phage binds tightly to HBsAg with a relative dissociation constant (KDrel) of 2.9+/-0.9 nM. The phage bearing this peptide has the potential to be used as a diagnostic reagent and two assays for detecting HBsAg in blood samples are described.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/isolation & purification; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/chemistry
Inhibition of hepatitis B virus assembly with synthetic peptides derived from the viral surface and core antigens

Tan WS

J Gen Appl Microbiol, 2002 Apr;48(2):103-7.
PMID: 12469306

The long surface antigen (L-HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays a central role in the production of infectious virions. During HBV morphogenesis, both the PreS and S domains of L-HBsAg form docking sites for the viral nucleocapsids. Thus, a compound that disrupts the interaction between the L-HBsAg and nucleocapsids could serve as a therapeutic agent against the virus based upon inhibition of morphogenesis. Synthetic peptides correspond to the binding sites in L-HBsAg inhibited the association of L-HBsAg with core antigen (HBcAg). A synthetic peptide carrying the epitope for a monoclonal antibody to the PreS1 domain competed weakly with L-HBsAg for HBcAg, but peptides corresponding to a linear sequence at the tip of the nucleocapsid spike did not, showing that the competing peptide does not resemble the tip of the spike.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/pharmacology*
Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody among health care employees in Negri Sembilan, Malaysia, 1989

Tan TC, Vadivale M, Ong CN

Asia Pac J Public Health, 1992;6(3):134-9.
PMID: 1342800 DOI: 10.1177/101053959200600303

This study was based on a hepatitis B screening program conducted in one of the states in Malaysia in 1989. The majority (84.6%) of the 2986 health employees were screened. One quarter (25%) was found to have serological markers for the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV); 2.1% had Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) and 22.8% had antibody to the Hepatitis B surface Antigen (anti-HBs). The occurrence of HBsAg was higher in ethnic Chinese (6.3%) compared to Malays (1.8%) and Indians (0.9%), even when analyzed by sex, but not with age, type of institution and geographical locality. The distribution of anti-HBs was higher with ethnic Chinese (41.6%), male sex (27.2%) and age. There was a wide variation of the prevalence of serological markers among occupations and increased relative risks of HBsAg were found among medical assistants (RR3.7; 95% CI 1.4-9.1) and laboratory staff (RR 3.2; 95% CI 1-8.8), and that of anti-HBs among medical assistants (RR 2.8; 95% CI 1.8-3.7). The variations of HBsAg among occupations by type of institutions was marginal while that of anti-HBs was higher among attendants and midwives in hospitals, medical assistants in health departments, and assistant nurses and dentists in dental centers. The patterns of distribution of serological markers of HBV among health staff reflect the situation in the community with high endemicity and resemble specific occupational factors noted in previous studies in the West.
Publication year is 1992-1993

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology
Fulltext Preventing Mother-to-child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus - A Success Story Which Can Be Enhanced

Tan SS, Chua A

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Apr;68(2):103-4.
PMID: 23629552
Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens*
Antigenicity and immunogenicity of the immunodominant region of hepatitis B surface antigen displayed on bacteriophage T7

Tan GH, Yusoff K, Seow HF, Tan WS

J Med Virol, 2005 Dec;77(4):475-80.
PMID: 16254965

The immunodominant region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) located in the viral small surface antigen (S-HBsAg) elicits virus-neutralizing and protective antibodies. In order to develop an easy and inexpensive method to produce this region without the need for extensive purification, amino acid residues 111-156 of S-HBsAg were fused to the C-terminal end of the 10B capsid protein of T7 phage. Western blotting and ELISA confirmed the expression of the recombinant protein on the surface of the phage particles. The recombinant phage exhibited the antigenic and immunogenic characteristics of HBsAg, illustrating its potential as an immunological reagent and vaccine.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/chemistry
Hepatitis B markers in non-icteric medical patients in Malaysia

Tan DS, Zaini Rahman M, Fang R, Collett D, Ooi BG

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1986 Jun;17(2):214-8.
PMID: 3538435

Sera were obtained from 494 non-icteric patients admitted with illnesses other than overt hepatitis into the medical wards of the rural and urban hospitals in Malaysia. They were tested for HBsAg, HBeAg, and anti-HBs by enzyme immunoassay. The overall HBsAg carrier rate was 18.0% ranging from 9.6% in children, (10 years and under), to a maximum of 23.5% in the adolescents (11 to 20 years), the rates decreasing subsequently to 16.5% and 20.8% in the adult and middle-age groups, respectively. The Chinese (18.6%) and Malays (19.9%) had similar HBsAg carrier rates but the rate in the Indians (9.0%) was distinctly lower. Similar rates were observed in the males (16.5%) and the females (19.8%). The carrier rate was 17.1% in rural patients compared with 21.4% in the urban ones. The 'e' antigen was found in 14 of the 89 HBsAg carriers (15.7%). The overall prevalence was 14/494 (2.8%) rising sharply from childhood (2.9%) to adolescence (5.3%), subsequently declining with advancing age. The Chinese had the highest rate (6.2%) followed by the Indians (1.5%) and the Malays (1.1%). Males had a rate of 3.3% compared to the females with 2.3%. Anti-HBs was found in 33.8% of the patients, increasing steadily from childhood (18.3%) to middle-age (46.4%). The Chinese had a higher prevalence rate (41.6%) than the Indians (32.8%) and the Malays (29.3%). The rates were similar for the males (35.6%) and the females (31.5%). Rural patients (46.1%) had a higher rate than urban patients (35.7%). Both areas showed rising prevalence with increasing age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis*
Fulltext Enhanced cell disruption strategy in the release of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen from Pichia pastoris using response surface methodology

Tam YJ, Allaudin ZN, Lila MA, Bahaman AR, Tan JS, Rezaei MA

BMC Biotechnol, 2012;12:70.
PMID: 23039947 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-12-70

Cell disruption strategies by high pressure homogenizer for the release of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from Pichia pastoris expression cells were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD). The factors studied include number of passes, biomass concentration and pulse pressure. Polynomial models were used to correlate the above mentioned factors to project the cell disruption capability and specific protein release of HBsAg from P. pastoris cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/isolation & purification; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism
Wide dynamic range of surface-plasmon-resonance-based assay for hepatitis B surface antigen antibody optimal detection in comparison with ELISA

Tam YJ, Zeenathul NA, Rezaei MA, Mustafa NH, Azmi MLM, Bahaman AR, et al.

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2017 Sep;64(5):735-744.
PMID: 27506960 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1528

Limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification, and the dynamic range of detection of hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs) using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chip-based approach with Pichia pastoris-derived recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as recognition element were established through the scouting for optimal conditions for the improvement of immobilization efficiency and in the use of optimal regeneration buffer. Recombinant HBsAg was immobilized onto the sensor surface of a CM5 chip at a concentration of 150 mg/L in sodium acetate buffer at pH 4 with added 0.6% Triton X-100. A regeneration solution of 20 mM HCl was optimally found to effectively unbind analytes from the ligand, thus allowing for multiple screening cycles. A dynamic range of detection of ∼0.00098-0.25 mg/L was obtained, and a sevenfold higher LOD, as well as a twofold increase in coefficient of variance of the replicated results, was shown as compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Evaluation of the assay for specificity showed no cross-reactivity with other antibodies tested. The ability of SPR chip-based assay and ELISA to detect anti-HBs in human serum was comparable, indicating that the SPR chip-based assay with its multiple screening capacity has greater advantage over ELISA.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/metabolism*; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/chemistry
Prothrombotic markers in Thalassemia major patients: A paradigm shift

Sultan S, Irfan SM, Zaidi SM

Med J Malaysia, 2018 08;73(4):185-189.
PMID: 30121679

BACKGROUND: It is being increasingly recognised that thalassemia major patients, like intermedia, have increased propensity for thromboembolism. Deficiency of natural anticoagulants is more recently defined finding contributing to the hypercoagulable state. The aim this study is to determine natural anticoagulants levels and their correlation with maternal characteristics, haematological and biochemical markers.
METHODS: This is a prospective case-control study. We registered 80 patients and 60 healthy controls from Jan 2009 to Dec 2013. Complete blood counts, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, protein C, protein S, antithrombin, serum ferritin, liver enzymes; HbsAg and Anti- HCV were evaluated.
RESULT: There were 42 males and 38 females with mean age of 12.30±5.50 years. The mean protein C, protein S and antithrombin in patients and control were 58.25±22.5 versus 110.67±22.60, 67.90±19.58 versus 98.70±21.54 and 89.73±18.09 versus 104.0±10.98 (p<0.001) respectively. Protein C was predominantly deficient in 65% followed by protein S and antithrombin in 35% and 20% respectively. Protein C deficiency divulged positive correlation with protein S deficiency (p = 0.035) and antithrombin deficiency with hemoglobin of ≤8gm% (p<0.0025). No significant correlation of prothrombotic markers was established with maternal characteristics, hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis and serum ferritin.
CONCLUSION: Substantial decrement in prothrombotic markers, primarily protein C, may be implicated in elevated thrombosis; however follow-up data is required to establish definitive thromboembolic events.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood
Assessment of infectiousness of male Malaysian blood donors

So-Har T, Gladys LC, Ramli N

Vox Sang, 1983;45(5):389-91.
PMID: 6636661

HBeAg and anti-HBe were determined in the blood of 189 male blood donors. The incidence of HBsAg was 6.9% while that for HBeAg and anti-HBe was 1.6 and 18%, respectively. Of the 13 samples positive for HBsAg, two (15.4%) were positive for HBe while six (46.2%) were positive for anti-HBe. One specimen was negative for HBsAg but was positive for HBeAg and anti-HBe. The observations are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis
Delta hepatitis in Malaysia

Sinniah M, Dimitrakakis M, Tan DS

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1986 Jun;17(2):229-33.
PMID: 3787309

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.) drug abusers, of whom 27 were positive for HBsAg only and the rest were anti-HBc IgG positive but HBsAg negative. The prevalence of delta markers in the homosexuals was found to be 6.7%, in the HBsAg positive drug abusers 17.8%, in acute hepatitis B cases 12.5%. No evidence of delta infection was detected in healthy HBsAg carriers, chronic hepatitis B cases and HBsAg negative i.v. drug abusers. With reference to i.v. drug abusers, the prevalence of delta markers was higher in Malays (23%) than in Chinese (7%) although the latter had a higher HBsAg carrier rate. Although the HBsAg carrier rate in the homosexuals was high, their delta prevalence rate was low as compared to drug abusers. In Malaysia, as in other non-endemic regions, hepatitis delta virus transmission appeared to occur mainly via the parenteral and sexual routes. This is the first time in Malaysia that a reservoir of delta infection has been demonstrated in certain groups of the population at high risk for hepatitis B.

Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis

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