[Superacute lethal liver necrosis in monkeys infected with highly pathogenic variants of enteroviruses (ECHO 11 and...

The authors studied the phenomenon of superhigh virulence for monkeys of viruses ECHO 11 (E11) and ECHO 19 (E19) isolated in 1981-1991 in Russia and Tadzhikistan from children with acute enterovirus uveitis or severe enterovirus infection. In 21 morphologically examined animals after coma, macrofocal or total necrosis of hepatocytes in weak inflammation was seen as early as experiment day 1-6. Hepatic lesion interpreted as hepatosis underlies acute hepatic failure with lethal outcome. The most intensive reproduction of viruses E11 and E19 occurred in the liver. Changes in the kidneys, lungs, spleen, adrenals, CNS detected in many animals aggravated the disease, but were not the primary cause of death. The disease in monkey was similar by the main criteria to superacute lethal diseases (acute hepatic failure against massive hepatic necrosis, hemorrhagic syndrome) registered in outbreaks of E11 and E19-virus infection in children in the USA, Great Britain, Israel, Russia and Ukraine. Monkeys can be used as man-adequate model for study of enterovirus superacute lethal necrosis of the liver.