W Variants of the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Israeli Populations

A survey of w variants of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HB(s)Ag) among native and immigrant Israelis revealed that the subtype ayw2 predominated among asymptomatic HB(s)Ag carriers (69%), and patients with acute (83%) and chronic active hepatitis B (81%). The subtypes ayw3, ayw4 and adw2, uncommon in native populations, were detected in carriage by immigrants and transients. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of ayw2 among native Israeli carriers (87%), and in particular natives with acute (93%) and chronic active hepatitis B (86%), indicates that the introduction of nonindigenous viral strains has not overtly altered the anticipated geographic distribution of hepatitis B viruses.