Subtypes of HBsAg in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

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Abstract
A total of 481 serum samples was collected from asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg [hepatitis B surface antigen] and some patients with acute and chronic hepatitis type B. The sera were obtained mainly from blood banks in the following countries: Poland, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and the European part of the USSR. Asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg from Poland and Hungary showed a preponderance of adw subtype over ayw subtype (Poland, 80.7% adw; Hungary, 72.2% adw). Carriers from the remaining countries showed the reverse situation (Bulgaria, 71.5% ayw; Yugoslavia, 79.0% ayw; Rumania, 82.8% ayw; USSR, 87.5% ayw. No individuals were found among these indigenous populations to have the adr or ayr subtypes, but 2 carriers appeared to have the unusual subtype adyw.