[Studies on the serological manifestation of the hepatitis B-virus-infections in the Republic of Liberia (author's transl)].

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infections was examined in four groups from Liberia using radioimmunoassays for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. At the age of 15-19 years 90% have been infected, at the age of 40 years 100%. In a rubber plantation 30% had HBsAg, in the remaining 3 groups only 13% were HBsAg-positive. In the first group onchocerciasis was also a more frequent finding. However the parasitic infection was not the cause of the HBs-antigenemia. The HBsAg-concentration is mostly lower in the positive Liberians than in German HBsAg-carriers. Apparently the HBV caused frequently latent infections with low production of viral antigens in Liberia.