Non-A, non-B hepatitis in experimentally infected chimpanzees with the NIH strains F and H.
The NIH strains F and H of non-A, non-B hepatitis were studied by transmission to chimpanzees. They developed biochemical and ultrastructural evidences of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Chimpanzee's plasma containing the strain F was passaged further three times in the present study, and the results were identical to the original report made by SHIMIZU et al. In contrast to the original report, however, the prototype strain H inoculum or human plasma supposedly containing only the strain H, induced both SHIMIZU's cytoplasmic and nuclear changes in one chimpanzee. This result may pour further oil on the flame of recent controversy regarding the sequestration of the strains H and F, but we believe at present that the strains H and F are separate infectious agents. This is based on the fact that the strain F never induced SHIMIZU's nuclear changes, and our detection of an additional infectious agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis identical to the NIH strain H. We suspect the NIH strain H inoculum provided to us was contaminated by the strain F. The conclusion of controversy regarding the strain H should await for further studies including a further cross challenge study between the strain H and the strain F. Ultrastructural changes of the chimpanzee's liver associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis are described.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D002679:Pan troglodytes
D000410:Alanine Transaminase