福岡市および南西諸島住民・福岡県・大分県内の施設収容者のオーストラリア抗原の頻度

抄録

Serum specimens obtained from 1325 people living under various conditions in southern part of Japan during the period 1969 through 1971 were investigated for Australia antigen (Au-Ag). Testing for Au-Ag was done by micro-Oucterlony's method (MO) using AUS-tect supplied by Abbott Laboratories and single radial immunodiffusion. test (SRID) using Eisai plate supplied by Eisai Company.
Test method and AU-Ag positive rate:
Out of 828 serum specimens tested, 27 were concommittantly positive by the both MO and SRID, and only one case showed a split (MO negative and SRID positive).
Districts, living and physical conditions, age and AU-Ag positive rate: Positive rate was 1.4% out of 221 outpatients under 25 years of age in a hospital in Fukuoka city, Kyushu island; positive rate was 5.6% in 305 inhabitants of Iriomote island (southernmost island of Okinawa), in that, the percentage was increased as the age was getting smaller-26% in age 5-9, and 14 (80%) out of all 17 AU-Ag positive cases were under 16. Eight cases (47.1%) were found positive intrafamilially (2 or 3 members in 3 families each); In pregnant women in Amami Islands, only 0.9% out of 347 were found postitive; Among institutionalized children, the frequency of AU-Ag was 4.0% in crippled patients in Kitakyushu city, 3.4% in 116 mentally retarded patients in Oita prefecture and none in 79 severe psychomotor retarded children in Fukuoka city; There was no positive case among 31 patients with Down's syndrome at home and among 5 patients with infantile hepatitis.
These data indicate that subtropical climate is one of the important factors influencing the epidemiology of AU-Ag and the possibility of intrafamilial infections cannot be denied.