Subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen in native-born and immigrant Israelis.

A survey of HBsAg among Jerusalem blood donors revealed a prevalence of 0.89% and a predominance of subtype ay (85%) compared with ad (15%). A simultaneous survey of patients with HBsAg-positive viral hepatitis revealed a similar predominance of ay (85%) compared with ad (15%). The uniform distribution of the dominant ay subtype among both carriers and patients, representing a diversity of ethnic and national origins, supports the premise that ad and ay subtypes are preferentially correlated with regional epidermiologic, rather than host or disease-related factors.