Markers of infectivity in carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen

The author evaluated the risk of VHB infection in families of carriers of HBsAg from the prevalence of the surface antigen and VHB morbidity in members of the family. The risk is 9.4%. It was revealed that a HBsAg carrier acted as a source of infection in 7.2% of all investigated cases of VHB. Part of the assembled sera of HBsAg carriers was examined for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBe. A high infectiousness corresponding to the finding of HBsAg was detected in 27% of the examined subjects, most frequently in the group aged 0-9 years. Anti-HBe antibodies were detected in 69.3% of the examined subjects. The presence of HBsAg in carriers of the surface antigen of VHB helps to differentiate highly infectious subjects and to define adequate provisions in the focus of infection.