Acute hepatitis due to dengue virus in a chronic hepatitis patient

We present a case of acute hepatitis caused by dengue virus, with a significant increase in aspartate transferase and alanine transferase levels in a chronic hepatitis patient attended at the Cane Sugar Planters Hospital of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ.

Acute hepatitis due to dengue virus in a chronic hepatitis patient.

We present a case of acute hepatitis caused by dengue virus, with a significant increase in aspartate transferase and alanine transferase levels in a chronic hepatitis patient attended at the Cane Sugar Planters Hospital of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ.

Regeneration of splenic autotransplants.

Splenic autotransplantation seems to be the only alternative for preservation of splenic tissue after total splenectomy. This work was carried out to analyze the morphologic regeneration of autotransplanted splenic tissue in Wistar rats and to determine the bacterial phagocytic function of their macrophages. We utilized an experimental model including young and adult rats, of both sexes, submitted to total splenectomy combined with autotransplantation in the greater omentum of slices of the whole mass of spleen. Sixteen weeks later animals were intravenously inoculated with a suspension of Escherichia coli AB1157. There was regeneration of autotransplanted splenic tissue in all animals. A similar morphological aspect among all animals was observed, with splenic tissue showing red and white pulps with a moderate architectural disarrangement. Macrophages containing bacterial aggregates were observed, as well as macrophages with hemosiderin pigments inside the cytoplasm. Blood vessels showed preserved walls, with no signs of vasculitis or thrombosis. The present results suggest that splenic autotransplants in the greater omentum of the rat acquire the macro- and microscopic architecture of a normal spleen, with reduced dimensions, and preserve bacterial phagocyte function.

Intragastric infection induced in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) by a Brazilian hepatitis A virus (HAF-203)

Several specied of non-human primates have been used in studies on experimental infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV). Attempts to infect a South-American marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) with a Brazilian HAV isolate (HAF-203) are described here. Four seronegative animals were inoculated intragastrically and one was sacrificed on day 11,20,47 and 62 after infection. One uninfected animal was included as control. Liver, small intestine, lymph node, spleen and kidney samples were collected for histological diagnosis and immunocytochemistry studies. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum enzymes and anti-HAV antibodies were monitored by a colorimetric procedure (Abbott) and an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), respectively. Feces were collected daily for HAV antigen (HAVAg) detection by ELISA. Increased levels of HAVAg were detected in hepatocytes 11 days after infection, with a gradual decrease during the course of infection. Shedding of HAVAg in feces was observed from the late incubation to the early acute phase (20th day to 47th day after infection). The end of the incubation period was indicated by the initial increases in serum ALT and AST. Severe hepatic lesions such as piecemeal necrosis and bridging necrosis were detected during the acute phase, coinciding with the maximum transaminase levels and the appearance of anti-HAV antibodies. On the 62nd day (convalescent phase), the hepatic tissue showed evidence of regeneration and the transaminase values had returned to baselines. The serological, biochemical, antigenic and histological evidence of hepatitis A was similar to that observed in several primate models inoculated with other HAV isolates. The data suggest that C. jacchus can be a valuable model for the study of hepatitis A and for the evaluation of HAV vaccines