Physical, chemical and morphologic dimensions of human hepatitis A virus strain CR326 (38578)

CR326 human hepatitis A virus purified by isopycnic banding from infected marmoset sera was shown to consist of 27 nm spherical particles on electron microscopic examination. The particles were identified as hepatitis A virus by tests for infectivity and by specific neutralization of infectivity with convalescent human hepatitis A serum. Also, indentical 27 nm viruses in liver extracts gave specific reactions with hepatitis A antisera when tested by immune electron microscopy. The bouyant density of the virus in CsCl was 1.34 and it was heat (60 degrees), ether and acid stable but was destroyed by heat (100 degrees), formalin (1:4000) and ultraviolet irradiation. Electron microscopic studies of sections of infected marmoset liver showed intracytoplasmic virus particles, usually in vesicles. Presumptive findings for RNA, together with the intracytoplasmic location of the virus, indicated the virus to be of RNA-type. The attributes of the virus indicate it is closely related to the enterovirus family and not to hepatitis B virus.