Analysis of hepatitis virus dna in the liver and serum of hbe antigen positive chimpanzee carriers

Abstract
Hepatitis B viral DNA present in the liver of HBe antigen positive chimpanzee carriers is in the form of free viral molecules (3.2 Kb) and no integration into host DNA was observed. The 3.2 Kb form was not detected in the serum. Other discrete HBV DNA species with faster mobilities than the major 3.2 Kb were consistently detected both in the liver and in the serum and their possible significance is discussed.