Lack of susceptibility of various primates and woodchucks to hepatitis C virus.

Five different species of primates including cynomolgus monkey, rhesus monkey, green monkey, Japanese monkey, and doguera baboon and woodchucks were inoculated intravenously with infectious serum from a chimpanzee infected with hepatitis C. Serum samples obtained weekly from these animals were negative for hepatitis C virus RNA and anti-HCV during six months following inoculation. Furthermore, serum alanine aminotransferase remained within normal limits, and normal liver histology was seen. This study indicates that these primates and woodchucks do not appear to be susceptible to hepatitis C virus.