Fulminant type A viral hepatitis in a chimpanzee.

Abstract

A case of a chimpanzee with fulminant hepatitis caused by spontaneous hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was reported. The liver at autopsy revealed massive liver cell necrosis with mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration. Aggregation of HAV-like particles (22-25 nm in diameter) were found within the vesicles of hepatocytes under the electron microscope. Immunofluorescent examination of the liver showed positive staining for HAV antigen, C1q, C3, C4, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the hepatocytes and/or Kupffer cells in a granular fashion. The anti-HAV antibody (IgM type) and circulating immune complexes were detected in the postmortem serum. The present study suggests the possibility that the deposition of immune complexes of HAV and anti-HAV antibody in the liver cell plays an important role in the pathogenesis of massive liver cell necrosis in fulminant type A viral hepatitis.

• Authors: K Abe, T Shikata
• Journal: Acta pathologica japonica (Acta Pathol Jpn) Vol. 32 Issue 1 Pg. 143-8 (Jan 1982) ISSN: 0001-6632 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 7041511 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Animals
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Hepatitis A (immunology, pathology, veterinary)
• Immunoglobulin M (analysis)
• Liver (pathology)
• Male
• Pan troglodytes (microbiology)