Detection of Australia-SH-antigen in urine

Immunoaffinity purification of hepatitis B surface antigen using anti-idiotype as a specific eluent

An immunoaffinity method for the purification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using monoclonal anti-idiotype (anti-Id) as a specific eluent is described. Ammonium sulfate fractions of HBsAg-containing plasma were absorbed on monoclonal idiotype (Id) immunoadsorbents. The bound material was eluted from the column with the anti-Id of HBsAg. The eluate containing anti-Id was further purified by gel filtration. The procedure yielded highly purified HBsAg. The final HBsAg product was free from contaminating human plasma and mouse ascites proteins. The procedure is generally applicable and particularly attractive when the antigen is unstable under commonly used elution conditions.

Hepatitis B virus DNA in saliva, urine, and seminal fluid of carriers of hepatitis B e antigen

Concentrated samples of saliva, urine, and seminal fluid from 23 men with chronic liver disease who were positive for hepatitis B e antigen were examined for the presence of hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA) by molecular hybridisation. HBV-DNA was detected in saliva from 15 of 17 men (88%), urine from 12 of 22 men (55%), and seminal fluid from 13 of 21 men (62%). The presence of hepatitis B virus in such secretions has important epidemiological implications for heterosexual and homosexual contact.

Localization of hepatitis B surface antigen in the human parotid gland

Localization of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the human parotid gland and liver was studied by an immunohistochemical method in four cases with seropositive HBsAg. Neither HBsAg nor HBcAg could be detected in the parenchymal cells of the parotid gland in any of the cases. However, one of four cases, which had the highest titer of serum HBsAg, showed HBsAg immunoreactivity in the vascular wall and luminal fluid of the parotid gland. In liver, HBsAg was detected in three and HBcAg in two of the four cases, respectively. HBsAg was localized in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, while HBcAg was localized mainly in their nuclei. The detection of HBsAg in the parotid gland and liver was correlated with the serum titer of the antigen. The results indicate that the HB virus does not have an affinity for or a replicate in the parotid gland. Also, it is suggested that the HBsAg found in saliva is derived from HBsAg circulating through the oral mucosa by capillary leakage and not from secretion into the mouth by the salivary gland.

Hepatitis. A review of the disease and its significance to dentistry

The report is a review of the literature related to hepatitis B and its implications for dental practitioners. Hepatitis B represents a serious health risk among dentists and simple preventive measures can greatly reduce the risk of transmission or contraction of the disease. Certain positive findings in a healthy history should alert the dentist that he may be treating a carrier of hepatitis B. If so, the wearing of gloves, a mask and protective eyewear will almost totally protect one from contracting the disease. To guard against transmission of hepatitis B to other patients in the dental practice, all instruments should be sterilized and all environmental surfaces should be appropriately treated. A person with a confirmed exposure to hepatitis B should be inoculated with immune serum globulin.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) in peritoneal fluid of HBSAg carriers undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Samples of ascitic fluid and outflow dialysate were collected from HBSAg carriers undergoing peritoneal dialysis and tested for HBSAg by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The surface antigen was detected in every sample from HBSAg carriers. This finding was not dependent upon the presence of occult blood in the sample. Surface antigen particles and possibly Dane particles were also observed in HBSAg-positive samples by immunoelectron microscopy. These results identify the outflow dialysate of HBSAg carriers undergoing peritoneal dialysis as a potential source of hepatitis B virus transmission.

Purification of hepatitis A virus by affinity chromatography

Hepatitis A virus was purified from faeces by immunoaffinity chromatography.

Patterns of sexually transmitted enteric diseases in a city

In the past three years cases of shigellosis, amoebiasis, and viral hepatitis A and B have increased fourfold to tenfold in San Francisco. These diseases were most common in people who had adopted "alternative life-styles", especially in young men, In many cases there was a history of frequent orogenital and oral-anal sexual contact between men with no common source. Despite energetic public-health measures and intensive efforts by physicians treating these cases, the increase has not yet been brought under control. Other cities may experience similar difficulties with sexual transmission of enteric diseases.20

Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in the saliva of patients with acute hepatitis B, and of chronic carriers

Hepatitis B surface antigen was detected by radioimmunoassay in the saliva of 11 of 25 patients with hepatitis B, for periods of up to 23 days after the onset of illness. It was also detected in the saliva of three of five chronic carriers. The presence of this antigen in the saliva may be an important factor in non-parenteral transmission of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis-B: a review

The recent literature on various aspects of hepatitis-B is reviewed with emphasis on the interrelationships of viral structure, antigenic components, and host immune response in acute, chronic, and asymptomatic carrier states of the infection. The mode of replication and mechanisms of transmission are discussed. Special attention is paid to potential non-parenteral routes of spread. The role of hepatitis-B in associated immune complex diseases and in hepatoma is outlined. A guide to the interpretation of serologic tests for hepatitis-B associated antigen and antibody patterns is presented in relation to the clinical stage and prognosis of the infection. Therapy, except in conceptual terms, is not covered but a summary of the current status of active and passive immunization is given. The unresolved question of the infectivity of carrier medical staff for their patient contacts, and the reverse, is discussed.

Isolation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by affinity chromatography on antibody-coated immunoadsorbents

Hepatitis tb surface antigen (HBsAg) was isolated from human serum by two steps of affinity chromatography on antibody-coated gels. HBsAg-positive serum was passed through a column packed with guinea pig anti-HBsAg antibodies covalently bound to CNBr-activated beaded agarose gel. The majority of non-specifically bound proteins was removed by washing the gel with increased concentrations (0.5 M) of NaCl in Tris buffer. Elution of the specifically bound HBsAg was carried out with 3 M NaSCN. Residual normal human serum proteins present in the eluate were removed by passing the partially purified HBsAg through an immunoadsorbent coated with rabbit antibodies directed against human serum proteins. After this treatment normal human serum proteins could no longer be demonstrated by passive hemagglutination in the isolated HBsAg. Cross-reactions between HBsAg and normal human serum proteins could not be demonstrated. Both antibody-coated immunoadsorbents could be used over ten times without significant loss of their binding capacity.

Cytoplasmic particles in hepatocytes of patients with Australia antigen-positive liver disease

An electron microscope study was made of liver biopsy material obtained during life or shortly after death from 11 patients. In three of them, where serum was positive for Australia antigen (two had serum hepatitis and one active chronic hepatitis) the hepatocytes contained characteristic particles within membrane-bound cytoplasmic vesicles. The appearance of these particles was very similar to that of the Australia antigen particles found in the serum. Two sizes of cytoplasmic particles were observed, with average diameters of about 26 and 46 nm. Particles of both sizes often had a membrane-like outer component and a moderately electron-dense inner component. They differed in both size and structure from the mainly intranuclear particles described by previous authors and which were not found in the present patients. The nature of the vesicles containing the particles was not apparent.

Serum hepatitis as a persistent infection

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