Familial Clustering of Hepatitis B Infections in Gorillas

Abstract

Two families of gorillas, comprising 13 animals, were studied in 1980-1982 for hepatitis virus infections. It was found that 27% of them had evidence of hepatitis B infection, and 23% evidence of hepatitis A infection. The four parents had been born in the wild and all of them had been infected with hepatitis B. The two patriarchs were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and one had hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg). The two matriarchs had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. Three of the four parents had antibody to hepatitis A virus. The two gorillas with HBsAg were retested two years later and shown to be chronic carriers of HBsAg, subtype adw. Both were HBeAg positive at this time. Six of the nine children in the first generation born in captivity had antibody to hepatitis B, but none of them had antibody to hepatitis A. Two gorillas were documented by seroconversion to become infected with hepatitis B, indicating gorilla-to-gorilla transmission. During the course of this study, a recently employed keeper who had the most direct contact with the gorillas experienced an asymptomatic seroconversion to hepatitis B. This study indicates that hepatitis B in gorilla families in captivity may be a model of its behavior in human families, and that close, continuing contact with gorillas may be an occasional source of human infection.

Viral Diseases of Nonhuman Primates

“…Other important viruses within this family are woodchuck hepatitis B virus, duck hepatitis virus, and ground squirrel hepatitis B virus. Strains of HBV that are distinct from human strains have been described in both captive and wild populations of chimpanzees, gibbons, orangutans, and gorillas (Maynard et al, 1971;Zuckerman et al, 1978;Thung et al, 1981;Linneman et al, 1984;Norder et al, 1996;Verschoor et al, 2001). A HBV strain has also been described in one New World species, the woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) (Lanford et al, 1998).…”

Molecular biology of hepatitis B virus infection

“…Virions were named Dane particles after the first author of the electron microscopy study in which they were first visualized (Dane et al , 1970). HBV is transmissible not just among humans but also in the great apes (Bancroft et al , 1977; Barker et al , 1973; Linnemann et al , 1984; Warren et al , 1999; Zuckerman et al , 1978), including the chimpanzee, which was used until recently as an experimental model. HBV can also infect the macaque (Macaca fascicularis)(Dupinay et al , 2013) and, in a laboratory setting, the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri)(Walter et al , 1996).…”

Detection of Virus-Like Particles in the Liver of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs With Hepatitis

“…Serum and plasma samples collected during medical examinations, as well as tissues collected during necropsy were stored in Ϫ70 C freezers. Frozen serum and liver tissue from a western lowland gorilla that was positive for HBV infection (Linnemann et al, 1984) were received from the Cincinnati Zoo for use as a positive control. Serum and tissues from a black and white ruffed lemur with no microscopic liver lesions were used as negative controls.…”

“…In addition, immunoassays for detection of immunoglobulin G antibody to hepatitis A virus (HAV) were also performed (Havab, Abbott Diagnostics). Prior to death, the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla was also tested for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibody to HBeAg, and both immunoglobulin G and M antibody to HAV (Linnemann et al, 1984).…”

“…Serum from the gorilla was positive for HbsAg, HBeAg, and IgG anti-HAV (Linnemann et al, 1984). Serum from both clinical cases and the negative control lemur were negative for all viral markers with the exception that Lemur No.…”