Detection and transmission in chimpanzees of hepatitis B virus-related agents formerly designated "non-A, non-B" hepatitis.

Four chimpanzees have been infected with three different inocula containing "non-A, non-B" hepatitis virus(es). After inoculation, serial studies established the presence of antigenemia or viremia (or both) by radioimmunoassay with high-affinity monoclonal antibodies directed toward separate and distinct determinants on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and by molecular hybridization analysis using a cloned hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA probe. In contrast to results observed during HBV infection, elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase values indicate that liver injury preceded antigenemia by several weeks. Thus, the time between inoculation and development of antigenemia (incubation period) varied from 64 to 190 days and, in some cases, single or multiple episodes of antigenemia or viremia occurred in the absence of elevated aminotransferase levels. In this study, two chimpanzees were high-titer positive for antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) from previous infection with HBV, suggesting that the antigenic composition of HBV-related virus(es) is substantially different from that of HBV, since naturally occurring anti-HBs antibodies were not protective. Demonstration of HBV-related virus(es) by the methods used in this study of experimental hepatitis infection in chimpanzees should now permit detection, isolation, and characterization of these previously elusive agents.