Incidence of Hepatitis B virus DNA and DNA-polymerase in sera of Italian asymptomatic carriers with the serological markers of HBV

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Abstract
The presence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in sera of patients with HBV related diseases is considered a reliable marker of virus active replication. In this paper HBV DNA was assayed by the molecular hybridization method with a32P labeled nick translated HBV probe. The assay was positive in sera of 21 out of 22 HBeAg-positive and 4 out of 8 HBeAg-negative asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. 15 HBsAg-negative sera obtained from healthy donors showed no HBV DNA. Almost 80 per cent of HBeAg and HBV DNA positive sera revealed a DNA-polymerase activity. In order to determine the infectivity of HBsAg carriers, it appears that, whenever possible, the HBV DNA spot hybridization should be performed in conjunction with the DNA-polymerase, HBsAg and HBeAg tests.