Liver orcein stain and viral DNA in duck hepatitis B virus infection in Chinese ducks and experimentally infected Japanese ducklings.

Abstract

Liver sections were stained with orcein, and duck hepatitis B virus was identified in sera and livers by the hybridization technique in 106 ducks (44 Chinese ducks, 15 Japanese ducks and 47 Japanese ducklings). Orcein-positive hepatocytes were found in 18 of 38 (47%) duck hepatitis B virus DNA seropositive ducks, and only in 3 of 68 (4%) seronegative ducks. The three ducks were all from a heavily infected flock in southern China. Serial analyses of viral DNA by Southern blot and spot hybridizations in experimentally infected Japanese ducklings revealed a dissociation or a time gap between the amount of viral DNA in serum and the emergence of orcein positive hepatocytes. Orcein-positive hepatocytes were generally associated with prolonged presence of viral infection for at least 4 to 6 months. These findings support the clinical hypothesis that the presence of orcein-positive hepatocytes indicates persistent rather than acute infection. Since orcein-positive hepatocytes have been seen in infection with hepatitis B, woodchuck hepatitis, ground squirrel and duck hepatitis B viruses, accumulation of orcein-positive material in liver cells may be one of the common properties these viruses share. This stain may be utilized for screening new hepatitis B virus-like viruses.

• Authors: J Mori, M Omata, O Yokosuka, F Imazeki, Y Ito, K Uchiumi, Y Matsuyama, W F Ye, K Okuda
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) 1984 Nov-Dec Vol. 4 Issue 6 Pg. 1124-8 ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6209199 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Oxazines
• PAcein

Topics

• Animals
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Ducks (microbiology)
• Hepatitis B (pathology, veterinary)
• Liver (analysis, pathology)
• Marmota
• Oxazines
• Poultry Diseases (pathology)
• Staining and Labeling