A study on infectivity of HBSAg positive saliva
Dai, Z.S.
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 9(6): 336-338
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0254-6450 PMID: 3245960 Document Number: 309269
HBsAg and HBV DNA in saliva from 80 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 43 HBsAg positive Hepatitis B patients were detected by RIA and by a simple spot hybridization technique. The results showed the positivity rates of HBsAg and HBV-DNA in saliva collected from HBsAg carriers were 38.8% (31/80)and 2.5% (2/80) respectively, and were 51.2% (22/43) and 7.0% (3/43) respectively from Hepatitis B patients. The results of an autoradiograph from dot-blot of saliva and serum samples by simple spot hybridization showed that consistency of saliva samples was much lower than that of the serum samples. The above results, both the positivity rate and consistency of HBV DNA were low, did not support the general view that HBsAg-positive saliva was a very important vehicle in transmission of HBV. As to the source of HBV DNA in saliva, the possibility of localization and replication of HBV in salivary gland should be further investigated.