GB virus B infection of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and associated liver pathology.
GB virus B (GBV-B) is a flavivirus that is related closely to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and induces an acute hepatitis when inoculated into several species of New World primates. Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are a widely available, non-endangered primate species that is susceptible to GBV-B infection and develops a characteristic acute hepatitis. Here, animals were found to be susceptible to serially passaged serum and GBV-B transcripts. Hepatic pathology and peripheral viraemia could be quantified biochemically, immunophenotypically and morphologically, and persisted for periods of up to 6 months in some animals. Hepatitis was characterized by a marked influx of CD3+ CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD20+ B cells within the first 2 months of primary infection. The results of this study document the marmoset as another small, non-human primate species in which the pathogenesis of GBV-B can be studied and used as a surrogate model of HCV infection for investigation of pathogenesis and antiviral drug development.
Departments of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
James R
JR
Jacob
Division of Clinical Research, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, PO Box 9102, One Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772-9102, USA.
Kuei-Chin
KC
Lin
Departments of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Bud C
BC
Tennant
Division of Clinical Research, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, PO Box 9102, One Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772-9102, USA.
Keith G
KG
Mansfield
D000818:Animals; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002144:Callithrix; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D029406:GB virus B / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D009336:Necrosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral