Serological and molecular analysis of hepatitis C virus envelope regions 1 and 2 during acute and chronic infections in chimpanzees.

Acute and chronic Hepatitis C virus infections were investigated retrospectively in chimpanzees that had been infected from a single source. Anti-E1 and anti-E2 were detected in two of three chimpanzees with a chronic infection, but were first detected 1 to 2 years after inoculation. Sequence evolution of the E1 region in three animals over a period of 9 to 11 years revealed a mutation rate of 1.02 to 2.23 x 10(-3) base substitutions per site per year. The acute phase viremia levels in acute infections which resolved appeared to be at least 10-fold higher than during the acute phase of chronic infections. During chronic infections, the viral load fell rapidly after the acute phase and remained at very low levels for several years. After 4 to 6 years, the viral load and liver enzymes increased again, suggesting reactivation of the infection. There was no clear temporal relationship between sequence evolution of the E1 region, changes in viral load, and the production of antibodies to the envelope proteins.