Hepatic cirrhosis occurring in a young woodchuck (Marmota monax) due to vertical transmission of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV).
Histologic and clinicopathologic findings of a woodchuck (Marmota monax) vertically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) are presented. The liver exhibits marked cirrhotic changes, which is characteristic of the pre-transformation phase of WHV. At necropsy, the woodchuck exhibited ascites and the liver had a grossly nodular appearance. Microscopically, focal hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cells were observed in midzonal and periportal areas in the liver. In Macchiavellos stained sections, cytoplasmic inclusion bodies appeared reddish granular materials. We believe that this may represent a new suitable and cost-effective cirrhotic model for the disease processes associated with hepadnaviruses in a number of other species, most notably Hepatitis B virus infection in man.
Jeong
Da-hee
DH
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea.
Jeong
Won-il
WI
Chung
Jae-yong
JY
An
Mi-young
MY
Jung
Chae-yong
CY
Lee
Gyoung-jae
GJ
Kang
Jong-soo
JS
Kang
Byeong-cheol
BC
Jee
Young-heun
YH
Williams
Bruce H
BH
Kwon
Young-oh
YO
Jeong
Kyu-shik
KS
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017919:Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008392:Marmota; D012016:Reference Values; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase