Abstract
Specimens of blood from 1,098 patients and employees at two institutions for the mentally retarded were tested by the passive hemagglutination assay for the presence of antibody (HB Ab) against the antigen of hepatitis B (HB Ag). The test was found to be highly specific and sensitive. Twenty-six of 52 patients newly admitted to one institution developed either HB Ag or HB Ab during an 18to 30month period of follow-up. None of these 26 developed overt hepatitis; this indicates a ratio of infection to overt hepatitis of >26:1 in this population. Fortythree percent to 52% of all patients tested and 20% of employees tested were found to have detectable amounts of HB Ab, which tended to persist for long periods. The prevalence of HB Ab, in contrast to that of HB Ag, was consistently lower among mongols than nonmongols. These findings suggest an immunologic deficiency in patients with mongolism. The prevalence of HB Ab was closely related to the duration of institutionalization. Other variables that have been found
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