Isolation of Hepatitis A Virus from the New World Owl Monkey: A New Animal Model for Hepatitis A Infections

摘要

Hepatitis A virus infections occured in naturally exposed Aotus trivirgatus. Monkeys newly admitted to the Aotus colony in Panama became infected during the quarantine period, shed hepatitis A virus in feces, and had viral antigen demonstrable in the liver. Infected monkeys developed a serologic response to the virus, including transient IgM anti-HAV. Experimental infection of colony-bred Aotus monkeys with PA-33 strain hepatitis A virus confirmed the field observations of hepatitis A infections in Aotus. Viral shedding was followed by chemical evidence of hepatocellular damage, and histologic changes in the liver were similar to viral hepatitis in man. These studies clearly define the Aotus as a useful and accurate model of human hepatitis A infections. Two strains of hepatitis A virus (PA-21 and PA-33) were isolated from Aotus in cell cultures suitable for use in human vaccine production. The titer of virus yields achieved in celluar extracts approached or exceeded those required for production of inactivated picornavirus vaccines. Preparation of a tissue culture-derived, inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is now a feasible goal.