Failure of hepatitis B immune globulin to protect against exp infection in chimpanzees.
To study experimentally the protective effect of post-exposure prophylaxis against hepatitis B (HB), a special preparation of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) was injected intravenously (i.v.) into three chimpanzees simultaneously with, or at different time intervals after, intravenous injection of a titred inoculum of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The HBIG was given either simultaneously with the HBV inoculum, at 4 hours after, or at both 4 hours and 4 weeks after the HBV injection. A fourth chimpanzee received a standard preparation of HBIG intramuscularly (i.m.) at both 4 hours and 4 weeks after receiving the HBV injection. A fifth animal received HBIG i.v. 4 hours after the HBV inoculum and at the same time received its first of three HB vaccine injections. All chimpanzees were followed for 1 year. The animals which received HBIG simultaneously with HBV or received HBIG plus vaccine had no serological or biochemical sign of HB during follow-up. The three animals which received HBIG after HBV inoculation all developed HBs-antigenemia and serum aminotransferase (ALT) elevations. HBsAg did however appear in serum several weeks later than expected for the HBV inoculum used. Post-exposure prophylaxis with HBIG did protect the HBV-exposed chimpanzees, only if HBIG was combined with HB-vaccination or if HBIG was given simultaneously with the HBV inoculum.
Wahl
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Göteborg, Ostra Hospital, Sweden.
Iwarson
S
S
Snoy
P
P
Gerety
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin