Non-A, non-B hepatitis: visualization of virus-like particles from chimpanzee and human sera

Virus-like particles (VLP), morphologically similar to togavirus particles, were detected in the sera of chimpanzees and humans with chronic non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. Particles resembling the virus were also found in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes obtained from NANB hepatitis infected chimpanzees. Furthermore, two chimpanzees inoculated with materials containing the VLP developed NANB hepatitis. These results strongly suggest that the VLP may be closely associated with the agent of NANB hepatitis.