[Detection of homozygotes and heterozygote carriers of GM2-gangliosidosis].

11 patients with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) and 4 patients with Sandhoff disease were identified using the methods of heat inactivation of hexosaminidase at 50 degrees C (3 and 4 hours) and electrofocusing on PAG-plates in the pH range 3.5-9.5. Ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose DE-52 proved to be reliable for identification of heterozygotes in cases when the proband was not available. The incidence of TSD gene was estimated in 2 population samples--from the cities of Gomel and Kostroma. It was about 0.004 in the Gomel sample. No heterozygotes were detected in Kostroma.