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Distribution of HB s Ag Subtypes in the World
Author(s) -
CouroucéPauty AnneMarie,
Plançon Annie,
Soulier J.P.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1983.tb01885.x
Subject(s) - virology , geography , ancient history , biology , history
. HB s Ag subtyping was performed in 5,337 sera from chronic carriers who originated from 54 different countries of the 5 continents. Nine subtypes were defined: ayw 1 , ayw 2 , ayw 3 , ayw 4 , ayr, adw 2 , adw 4 , adr q‐ and adr q+ . The repartition of these subtypes, according to the country of origin of the carriers, enhances the previous results and supplies new data: ayw 1 is prevalent only in Vietnam (51%); ayw 2 in Mediterranean countries (73%); ayw 3 in Greece and Yugoslavia (54%) along with ayw 2 (41%); ayw 4 in West Africa (82%) and Central Africa (42%) along with ayw 2 ; ayr was only found in Vietnam (3.4%); adw 2 is prevalent in North and Central Europe (70%), East and South Africa (95%), India (55%), along with ayw 3 (35%) in northern South America (74%), and in the Antilles (82%); adw 4 is widespread in French Polynesia (45%) — with a 100% frequency in the Marquesas archipelago — as well as in Argentina (42%); adr q‐ was found only in Oceania: French Polynesia (34%) with a 69% frequency in the Australes, New Caledonia (3 out of 3 HB s Ag carriers); adr q+ is the prevalent subtype in South‐East Asia if we exclude Vietnam (61%). These results show that a precise geographical distribution of HB s Ag subtypes needs more than ‘four main subtypes’ generally used. Enlarging from 4 subtypes to 9 is a requirement for valuable epidemiologic studies, as well as for the specification of anti‐HB s antibodies produced by hybrids or induced by synthetic peptide. The geographical distribution of these 9 HB s Ag subtypes and the serological relationship between some determinants suggest a genetic recombination of viral DNA.