Non-A/non-B hepatitis in experimentally infected chimpanzees: cross-challenge and electron microscopic studies

J Med Virol. 1980;6(3):185-201. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890060302.

Abstract

Inoculation of eight chimpanzees with factor VIII, factor IX, or "H" strain plasma resulted in enzymatic and histopathologic evidence of non-A/non-B hepatitis in all eight animals. Challenge of two chimpanzees convalescent from factor VIII-induced disease with either factor IX or "H" strain plasma resulted in non-A/non-B hepatitis only in the animal inoculated with factor IX materials. Reciprocal cross-challenge of a chimpanzee convalescent from factor IX-induced disease with factor VIII also produced unequivocal enzymatic and histopathologic evidence of non-A/non-B hepatitis. Cross-challenge of a chimpanzee convalescent from "H" strain-induced non-A/non-B hepatitis with factor VII did not cause a second bout of non-A/non-B hepatitis. These findings suggest the factor VIII materials and "H" strain plasma used in these studies share a common etiologic agent (or agents), but that factor VIII and factor IX may contain two distinct agents. Electron microscopic (EM) examination of thin-sectioned, acute-phase liver biopsies from all but one of the chimpanzees receiving the primary inocula revealed the presence of abnormal hepatocyte cytoplasmic structures previously shown to be associated with non-A/non-B hepatitis. Crystalline structure containing 25 to 30 nm particles were visualized by EM in the cytoplasm of endothelial or Kupffer cells in acute-phase liver biopsies obtained from three chimpanzees inoculated with either factor VIII materials or "H" strain plasma.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Factor IX / administration & dosage
  • Factor IX / adverse effects
  • Factor VIII / administration & dosage
  • Factor VIII / adverse effects
  • Hepatitis C / etiology
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / pathology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology*
  • Immunity*
  • Liver / ultrastructure*
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Transfusion Reaction

Substances

  • Factor VIII
  • Factor IX