Two young black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata) died at the San Diego Zoo (San Diego, California, USA) with extensive liver lesions suggestive of acute viral infection. Immunoassays performed to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were negative. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers overlapping the HBV core gene produced an amplicon of approximately 411 base pairs (bp) from serum DNA of a HBV-positive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) but not from serum DNA of either lemur. Cesium chloride gradient fractions of liver homogenates from both lemurs contained a peak protein fraction with a density of 1.18 g/cm3. Electron microscopic analysis of fraction contents, concentrated by ultracentrifugation, revealed numerous pleomorphic, spherical particles varying in diameter from 16–25 nm. In one of the lemurs, this peak fraction also contained a double-shelled virus-like particle 47–50 nm in diameter. The size, morphology, and density of these particles suggest they are members of the Hepadnaviridae, a group of hepatotropic DNA-genome viruses for which HBV is the prototype.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Articles|
April 01 2002
DETECTION OF VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN THE LIVER OF BLACK AND WHITE RUFFED LEMURS WITH HEPATITIS
Michael B. Worley;
Michael B. Worley
3
1 Virology and Immunology Laboratory and
3 Corresponding author (e-mail: mworley@sandiegozoo.org)
Search for other works by this author on:
Ilse H. Stalis
Ilse H. Stalis
2 Department of Pathology, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego, P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, California 92112, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
J Wildl Dis (2002) 38 (2): 258–265.
Article history
Received:
August 07 2000
Citation
Michael B. Worley, Ilse H. Stalis; DETECTION OF VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN THE LIVER OF BLACK AND WHITE RUFFED LEMURS WITH HEPATITIS. J Wildl Dis 1 April 2002; 38 (2): 258–265. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-38.2.258
Download citation file:
Citing articles via
HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF WILD NORTHERN DIAMOND-BACKED TERRAPINS (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN TERRAPIN) IN NEW JERSEY, USA
Nicole Lewis, Brian Zarate, Johnathan Wnek, Benjamin Wurst
Multisystemic Enterococcosis in Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) from Florida, USA
Megan Caudill, Tracey D. Logan, April Childress, Veronica Guzman-Vargas, Kevin M. Enge, Lisa A. Shender, Robert J. Ossiboff
Dermatomycosis Caused by Paranannizziopsis australasiensis in Nonnative Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) Captured in Central Florida, USA
Natalie M. Claunch, Colin M. Goodman, Madison Harman, Mariaguadalupe Vilchez, Savanna D. Smit, Bryan M. Kluever, James F.X. Wellehan, Robert J. Ossiboff, Christina M. Romagosa
Metastatic Anaplastic Sarcoma in a Wild Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)
Jaimee L. Wheelhouse, John T. Mackie
Fibropapillomatosis Associated with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in a Green Turtle Chelonia mydas in Argentine Waters
Javier Aníbal Origlia, Juan Pablo Loureiro, Marco Antonio Tizzano, Fernando Maydup, Karina Alvarez, Sergio Rodríguez Heredia, María Gabriela Echeverría, Hernán Sguazza