[Significance of serological markers and virological marker for hepatitis E in rhesus monkey model].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serological markers and biological marker in the diagnosis of hepatitis E infection in a rhesus monkey model.


METHODS
86 rhesus monkeys had been infected with different doses of HEV. Hence, they were taken sequential blood samples at intervals up to 86 weeks for 4 hepatitis E virus (HEV) specific antibody assays (E2-IgM, E2-IgG, GL-IgG, and YES-IgG), and nucleic acid assay.


RESULTS
All the animals produced E2-IgG and all but one also produced E2-IgM and excreted the virus in stool, whereas positive rate of GL-IgG and YES IgG were low and correlated with virus level. Hepatitis occurred over a period of 4 weeks (between 3 an 7 weeks) after infection. Virological marker occurred mainly during incubation period and declined rapidly after onset of hepatitis. Seroconversion of E2-IgM occurred before onset of hepatitis in 70% monkeys and declined rapidly up to 50% of peak value after 4 weeks. E2-IgM seroconversion was closely paralleled by E2-IgG; however, E2-IgG persisted in all animals for the entire duration of experiment of up to 86 weeks. Production of GL-IgG and YES-IgG was delayed by one week after the E2 antibodies, these antibodies showed a transient occurrence and seroprevalence declined to 50% of the peak value over a period of 12 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
E2-IgM might be used as a suitable acute hepatitis E marker, and E2-IgG as a suitable epidemiological marker. The seroconversion or titer elevation of GL-IgG and YES-IgG antibodies probably used to confirm the infection. The viral markers are optional for early diagnosis.
Zhang
Jun
J
The Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Cell Biology and Tumor Cell Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
Ge
Sheng-xiang
SX
Huang
Guo-yong
GY
Li
Shao-wei
SW
He
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Wang
Ying-bing
YB
Zheng
Ying-jie
YJ
Gu
Ying
Y
Ng
Mun-hon
MH
Xia
Ning-shao
NS
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D005838:Genotype; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008253:Macaca mulatta
D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000410:Alanine Transaminase