Relative infectivity of hepatitis A virus by the oral and intravenous routes in 2 species of nonhuman primates.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is naturally transmitted by the fecal-oral route but can also be transmitted intravenously. To determine the relative infectivity of these 2 routes, an infectivity titration of a standard challenge pool of virulent HAV was performed in tamarins and chimpanzees. In both species, 1 oral dose of HAV was equivalent to 10(4.5) intravenous doses. These findings have relevance for attempts to develop live, attenuated HAV vaccines that can be administered orally.
Purcell
Robert H
RH
Hepatitis Viruses Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 50 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-8009, USA. rpurcell@niaid.nih.gov
Wong
Doris C
DC
Shapiro
Max
M
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012452:Saguinus