Core antigen and antibody in woodchucks after infection with woodchuck hepatitis virus

Abstract

The woodchuck hepatitis virus is a naturally occurring hepatitis B-like virus that infects the eastern woodchuck. Direct immunofluorescence staining for woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen in liver biopsies demonstrated the presence of this antigen in 14 of 17 chronically infected woodchucks, and in 8 of 10 woodchucks undergoing acute infections. Fluorescent localization of woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen was typically cytoplasmic, and this was confirmed further by electron microscopy. Experimental infection with woodchuck hepatitis virus was achieved in four of four woodchucks inoculated with serum from chronic carrier woodchucks. All infected animals developed a self-limited disease characterized by seroconversion to antibodies against the major viral antigens (core and surface antigens); naturally acquired acute infection demonstrated a similar course. A chimpanzee seronegative for all markers of hepatitis B virus developed a subclinical infection after inoculation with woodchuck hepatitis virus.

Immunocytochemical and electron microscopic study of hepatitis B virus antigen and complete particle production in hepatitis B virus DNA transfected HepG2 cells

“…This observation corresponds to the situation seen in WHV chronically infected woodchuck cells, where core antigen is found in the cytoplasm (32). In woodchucks, chronic virus carriers often have 10to 20-fold higher levels of serum DNA polymerase (which directly correlate with virus replication) than do human chronic carriers of HBV (33).…”

Hepatocellular carcinoma in woodchuck hepatitis virus-infected woodchucks: Presence of viral DNA in tumor tissue from chronic carriers and animals serologically recovered from acute infections

“…HCC in four serologically recovered animals (1209, 1210, 1211, 1239) was first indicated by a persistent elevation (>lo IU per liter) of GGT (13,16) in the serum during routine follow-up. The serologic profiles of WHV markers of these four animals were generally routine (24), with seroconversion to anti-WHs approximately 6 months following virus infection and 18 to 32 months prior to the development of HCC (Fig. 2).…”

Treatment of chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus infection in the eastern woodchuck(marmota monax) with nucleoside analogues is predictive of therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in humans

“…Levels of woodchuck hepatitis surface antigen (WHsAg) and the presence of antibodies to woodchuck hepatitis surface (anti-WHs) and core (anti-WHc) antigens in serum samples were assessed as previously described using WHVspecific radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. [24][25][26][27] Hepatic WHV Nucleic Acids. Levels of intrahepatic WHV nucleic acids were quantitatively determined by Southern or Northern blot hybridization as previously described using the same probe listed above.…”