[Characteristics of the distribution of the markers of hepatitis B vir us infection among the healthy population of the Tadzhik SSR and Azerbaijan SSR]. / Osobennosti rasprostraneniia markerov infektsii virusom gepatita B u zdorovogo naseleniia Tadzhikskoi SSR i Azerbaidzhanskoi SSR.

A total of 708 healthy persons in Tajikistan and 576 healthy persons in Azerbaijan, these groups comprising persons of both sexes and different age groups, were examined by the method of double gel immunodiffusion (the gel precipitation test) and by the passive hemagglutination test for the presence of the markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (HBsAg and HBeAg) and antibodies to them. This investigation showed that, in accordance with the level of hepatitis B morbidity, HBsAg was significantly more often detected among the population in Tajikistan (7.2%) than in Azerbaijan (2.8%). In both republics HBV carriers occurred most frequently among children aged 1-4 years (4.0% in Azerbaijan and 13.9% in Tajikistan), and among men more frequently than among women. In accordance with different intensity of the spread of HBV infection in the territories under comparison, differences in the age structure of the immune population were noted: in Tajikistan the formation of the immune layer occurred most frequently among younger age groups and in Azerbaijan, among senior adult age groups. The presence of a considerable percentage of persons with HBe-antigenemia (14.3-14.9% as determined by the gel precipitation test) among HBV carriers, observed in Tajikistan and in Azerbaijan, indicates that some of them have undetected chronic hepatitis B.

[Development of a system for determining antibodies to the surface antigen of the virus of hepatitis B (HBsAb)]. / Razrabotka sistemy dlia opredeleniia antitel k poverkhnostnomu antigenu virusa gepatita B (HBsAb).

A method for preparation of an immune diagnosticum using human erythrocytes of 0 (I) blood group sensitized with hepatitis B surface antigen in the presence of chromium chloride followed by the addition of formalin solution, for detection of antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen is described. Using this immune diagnosticum, antibody to the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus was detected in 12-15% of the normal population in the Latvian SSR, and in 91% of patients with hepatitis B.