[Experimental models of hepatitis A in macaques using viral strains isolated from man and monkeys]

Experimental hepatitis A (HA) models were obtained in macaca monkeys (15 M. fascicularis and 4 M. mulatta) by means of the strains of hepatitis A virus (HAV) isolated from the feces of a patient (HAV-H) and of spontaneously infected M. Mulatta (HAV-MM) and green monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops (HAV-CA). Irrespective of the strains used all seronegative macaca monkeys developed HA after intravenous-oral inoculation with the following patterns: elevation of the serum alanine aminotransferase level, HAV shedding in feces, seroconversion with the appearance of anti-HAV IgM and morphological changes in the liver characteristic of acute hepatitis. HAV in fecal samples and elevation of alanine aminotransferase were periodically detected. Periods of their discovery varied from 5-22 to 15-47 days and those of morphological changes in the liver from 9-24 to 40-83 days. The results of the experiments show that experimental HA models in Macaca monkeys are no less adequate than the previous ones developed in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), marmosets (Saguinus mystax) and owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus), but they are more readily available. Both strain HAV-H and strains from monkeys can be used for HA modelling. The models are expected to be used for studying yet unsolved problems of pathogenesis and immunogenesis, as well as for testing vaccines and antiviral drugs.