Transmission of human non‐a, non‐b hepatitis to chimpanzees following failure to transmit gb agent hepatitis

Abstract
Two colony-born infant chimpanzees were inoculated with documented infectious serum containing the GB agent. Serum aminotransferase levels remained within normal limits in weekly serum samples, and no abnormalities were detected in weekly liver biopsy specimens. Each of these chimpanzees was subsequently inoculated with serum containing an agent of human non-A, non-B hepatitis. Each developed non-A, non-B hepatitis characterized by elevation of serum aminotransferase levels and histopathologic changes in liver biopsy specimens. Thus, the chimpanzee appears not to be susceptible to the GB agent, and prior inoculation with this agent does not appear to confer immunity to subsequent infection with human non-A, non-B hepatitis.