Hepatitis B outbreak among chimpanzees at the London Zoo.
Persistent carriage of hepatitis B virus in extremely high titre was identified in 5 out of 9 chimpanzees kept at the London Zoo. Antibody to this virus was present in the other 4 chimpanzees. Serological survey of the other primates in the Regent's Park collection did not reveal the presence of the surface antigen in 2 gorillas, 11 orang-utans, and 2 gibbons, although surface antibody was present in the serum of 1 gorilla and 2 orang-utans. 3 of the carrier chimpanzees were born at the Zoo and were the offspring of either a carrier mother or a carrier father, and perinatal transmission may have occurred. A strict safety code of practice was introduced and hepatitis B immunoglobulin was given at intervals to designated staff members. Sero-conversion did not occur in any of the 38 staff members under surveillance for more than 2 years. Treatment of the carrier state in the chimpanzees was attempted with human leucocyte interferon, with and without ribavirin ('Virazole'), and with adenine arabinoside, but the effects were mostly temporary.
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008131:London; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; D014740:Vidarabine