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Hepatitis E virus infection in chimpanzees: a retrospective analysis.
K A McCaustland1, K Krawczynski, J W Ebert
1Hepatitis Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30033, USA.
Archives of Virology
|October 24, 2000
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in chimpanzees shows varied disease patterns. Some infected chimpanzees developed severe symptoms, while others showed minimal or no signs of illness, mirroring human HEV infection outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of acute hepatitis globally.
- Understanding HEV infection patterns is crucial for public health management.
- Chimpanzees are susceptible to HEV and serve as a model for human infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of disease patterns following experimental HEV inoculation in chimpanzees.
- To determine if different HEV strains from distinct outbreaks elicit varied responses.
- To correlate chimpanzee infection outcomes with potential human responses to HEV.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous inoculation of 11 chimpanzees with HEV-positive fecal material from four global outbreaks.
- Monitoring of liver enzymes, viral shedding, viremia, and antibody production (seroconversion).
- Detection of HEV antigen in liver biopsy specimens.
Main Results:
- Observed diverse disease manifestations among the 11 inoculated chimpanzees.
- Five chimpanzees exhibited minimal or no liver enzyme elevation within 70 days.
- Four chimpanzees developed significant liver enzyme elevations, viremia, viral shedding, seroconversion, and detectable HEV antigen in liver biopsies.
Conclusions:
- Experimental HEV infection in chimpanzees recapitulates a range of clinical outcomes seen in humans.
- The study highlights the variability in host response to HEV infection.
- Findings suggest that natural HEV exposure in humans can lead to a spectrum of disease, from asymptomatic to symptomatic hepatitis.
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