HEPATITIS B ANTIGEN IN WILD-CAUGHT MOSQUITOES IN AFRICA

187 pools of mosquitoes caught in the wild in Kenya and Uganda have been examined for the presence of the hepatitis B (H.A.A., SH, Australia) antigen. This antigen was detected by solid-phase radioimmunoassay in 28 pools representing eight different species. These data suggest a possible role for blood-sucking arthropods in transmission of hepatitis-B infections in the tropics and in other areas. The high prevalence of chronic hepatitis-B infections in the tropics may depend on blood-sucking arthropod vectors to assure a high frequency of exposure in the early years of life when the risk of developing chronic hepatitis-B-virus infections is greatest. © 1972.