Enterically transmitted Non-A,Non B, hepatitis immunity in Rhesus Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca mulatta & Macaca fascicularis)

An exoerimental model of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hapatitis was established in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis). Two monkeys previously infected with 10 per cent pooled stool suspensions of Myanmar patients with well-defined enterically transmitted non-A, non-B, hepatitis and three virgin control monkeys were infected simultaneously with pools of stool suspensions from the first-passage. None of the two previously infected monkeys developed signs of hepatitis. All the control virgin monkeys exhibited hepattis as evident by sharp rise in serum aminotransfrases and pathological changes of acute hepatitis in liver biopsies. These findings document the establishment of immunity after infection with enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis virus in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys.

Experimental transmission of Non A, Non B hepatitis to rhesus monkey; (a preliminary report)

Two rhesus monkeys (M.mulatta) were injected intravenously with 10 per cent (wt/wt) pooled-stool suspensions obtained from Non-A, Non-B hepatitis patients in Rangoon. One control monkeys was injected phosphate-buffered saline only. Serial monitoring of transminase levels showed significantly raised SGOT and SGPT levels in one of the stool-injected monkey (CY-2) 4 weeks after injection. Liver biopsy was taken at the peak of transminase levels. Histologic changes suggestive of acute hepatitis were detected. EM and IEM studies for detection of virus like particles are in progress. Non-A, Non-B hepatitis was first recognized as a form of post transfusion hepatitis (Alter, HS et al 1978). However a number of reports from Burma (Khin Maung Tin and Myint Myint Khin 1977, Hla Myint 1985) India (Tandon, BN 1982), Nepal (Kane, MA 1984) and Japan (Yamandi, MA 1983), confirmed the existence of foeco-oral form of epidemic Non-A, Non-B hepatitis. Moreover there are also studies indicating sporadic form of Non-A, Non-B hepatitis (Kuroo, MS et al 1983, Nogato, A et al 1985). In Burma there are both epidemic and sporadic Non-A, Non-B hepatitis. At the present time there are no accepted serologic tests for Non-A, Non-B hepatitis in spite of several supposedly definitive antigenantibldy systems. In this study sporadic Non-A, Non-B hepatitis was transmitted to locally available rhesus monkeys.