Acute hepatitis A infection in hepatitis B chimpanzee carriers.

Abstract

Two hepatitis B virus carrier chimpanzees which were superinfected with hepatitis A virus developed acute hepatitis followed by the production of antibodies to hepatitis A virus. The Southern blot technique employed to monitor liver hepatitis B virus DNA revealed that the amount of viral DNA in both animals was significantly reduced during the acute phase of hepatitis A infection. The levels of plasma hepatitis B DNA polymerase activity were also reduced in one chimpanzee. The high titers of HBsAg in the circulation remained unchanged throughout the study, and antibodies to the surface antigen and to e antigen were not detected. The morphological lesions in the liver were severe in one chimpanzee from whom one specimen showed both periportal focal necrosis and zonal parenchymal necrosis.

• Authors: K N Tsiquaye, T J Harrison, B Portmann, S Hu, A J Zuckerman
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) 1984 May-Jun Vol. 4 Issue 3 Pg. 504-9 ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6724518 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens

Topics

• Animals
• Carrier State
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Female
• Hepatitis A (complications, pathology, veterinary)
• Hepatitis B (complications, pathology, veterinary)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (analysis)
• Hepatitis B virus (genetics)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Animal (complications)
• Liver (pathology)
• Nucleic Acid Hybridization
• Pan troglodytes