Detection of the hepatitis C virus genome in acute and chronic experimental infection in chimpanzees

In order to gain an understanding of the relationship of various markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in acute and chronic cases of the disease, serial blood samples obtained from chimpanzees before and after infection with HCV were analyzed for the presence of the HCV genome by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA (cDNA PCR) synthesized from plasma- and serum-derived RNA. In a chimpanzee with acute hepatitis C, signals detectable by cDNA PCR appeared 1 week before characteristic ultrastructural changes visualized by electron microscopy, persisted throughout the peak alanine aminotransferase levels, and diminished with the disappearance of alterations visualized by electron microscopy. This was in contrast to the results obtained from chimpanzees with chronic HCV infection, in which the HCV genome was consistently detectable for up to 10 years after infection. The results indicate the usefulness of detection of HCV RNA by cDNA PCR as a sensitive and semiquantitative method for monitoring the course of HCV infection and as a potential marker for differentiating between chronic and acute cases of disease.