Viruslike particles in a plasma fraction (fibrinogen) and in the circulation of apparently healthy blood donors capable of inducing non-A/non-B hepatitis in humans and chimpanzees

Intracytoplasmic inclusions in human hepatocytes in non‐A, non‐B hepatitis: An ultrastructural study

“…At present, only electron microscopic markers have a degree of specificity in establishing the diagnosis of non-A, non-B hepatitis, notably in chimpanzees, which are the only reliable nonhuman primates susceptible to infection by the parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis agents of human origin [Alter et al, 1978;Tabor et al, 1978;Wyke et al, 19791. The most obvious and well-pronounced pathological alteration in affected chimpanzees is the derangement of the endoplasmic reticulum with the formation of tubular structures possessing walls with electron-dense central membranes [Jackson et al, 1979;Shimizu et al, 1979;Bradley et al, 1980;Burk et al, 1981;Yoshizawa et al, 1980;Tsiquaye et al, 1980, 19811. Staining with an alternative metal stain, potassium permanganate, revealed a well-defined electron-dense fibrillar meshwork incorporated within the tubular wall [McCaul et al, 19821. The tubular structures have also been described by Pfeifer et al [1980] and Ghadially [1981] using different nomenclature.…”

Cell-Based and Animal Models for Hepatitis B and C Viruses

“…In 1978, four independent groups almost simultaneously reported the transmission of NANB hepatitis to chimpanzees (Alter et al, 1978;Hollinger et al, 1978;Prince et al, 1978;Tabor et al, 1978), and demonstrated serial transmission to other animals (Tabor et al, 1978(Tabor et al, , 1979. Several other groups (Bradley et al, 1979;Wyke et al, 1979;Yoshizawa et al, 1980;Eder et al, 1982) subsequently confirmed these observations. A variety of different inocula were used for successful transmissions, including acute-phase and chronic-phase sera or plasma from individuals with posttransfusion or community-acquired NANB hepatitis, clinical specimens from implicated blood donors, clotting factor VIII and IX, and fibrinogen (Dienstag, 1983).…”

Experimental infection of tamarins with human non‐a, non‐b hepatitis virus

“…Both light and electron microscopic investigations revealed changes in the hepatocytes of both animals consistent with viral hepatitis. The proliferation of the endoplasmic reticulum led to the formation of circular vesicles, bounded by a double membrane, and occasionally exhibiting the electron-dense intermediate layer observed in NANB-infected chimpanzees [Shimizu et al, 1979;Yoshizawa et al, 1980;Feinstone et al, 19811. The innermost membrane was lined with ribosomes.…”

“…The animals developed enzyme abnormalities and liver pathology similar to those seen in humans. Electron microscopic studies have revealed in both NANB-infected chimpanzee and human liver, characteristic changes in nuclear and cytoplasmic ultrastructure, as well as virus-like particles [Shimizu et al, 1979;Bradley et al, 1979Bradley et al, , 1980Tsiquaye et al, 1980;Yoshizawa et al, 1980;Burk et al, 1981;Busachi et al, 1981;Bamber et al, 1981;Marciano-Cabral et al, 19811. Recently, marmosets have also been successfully infected with NANB hepatitis virus(es) [Feinstone et al, 19811. These primates are, however, less susceptible than chimpanzees.…”