Summary
Serial biopsy specimens (up to 21) of 39 chimpanzees who received inocula of defined infectivity containing hepatitis virus A (9 animals), B (7 animals), and non-A-non-B (24 animals) were evaluated under code for light-microscopic alterations. These studies demonstrated the basic pathologic features seen in human viral hepatitis, although to a lesser degree. These included besides hepatocytic degeneration and necrosis lobular and portal reactions of lymphocytic, macrophagic, and sinusoidal cells. Simultaneously determined serum enzyme activities correlated well with histologic parenchymal changes, indicating that diffuse hepatocytic alterations rather than necrosis are the main substrate of functional alterations. Massive necrosis and chronic active hepatitis were never observed. Hepatitis A and B revealed relatively severe changes which in hepatitis A were restricted to the periportal zone. Hepatitis B had a more prolonged course. Hepatitis non-A-non-B appears to represent a lingering disorder with prolonged low-grade activity but may have a transient period of acute hepatocytic degeneration. The histologic changes appeared earliest in hepatitis A, much later in hepatitis B, and intermediate in time in hepatitis non-A-non-B. The histologic features in the three forms of chimpanzee hepatitis may assist in the light-microscopic differentiation of the three forms in man.
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Supported by National Institutes of Health NIEHS Grant, Nos. 2 P30 E500928 06 and AM 25553 and Contract No. HB-9-2919
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Popper, H., Dienstag, J.L., Feinstone, S.M. et al. The pathology of viral hepatitis in chimpanzees. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 387, 91–106 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428432
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428432