Hepatitis A is a widespread viral infection. The HAV strains of "human" and "monkey" origin are similar in their morphological and antigenic properties, but differ genotypically.
Objectives: The aim of this research was a comparative study of serological and molecular-genetic markers of HAV infection in monkeys born at the Adler Primate Center and in those imported from different countries.
Material and methods: Fecal samples (n = 313) and serum (n = 266) from various species of monkey using ELISA and RT-PCR were studied.
Results and discussion: The frequency of anti-HAV-IgG was high (78.9%) in imported animals (vervet monkeys from Tanzania and cynomolgus monkeys from Vietnam) and as well as in various species of monkeys (rhesus monkeys, cynomolgus monkeys, green monkeys and papio hamadryas) of the Center (88.6%). At the same time, in the imported monkeys, the markers of "fresh" HAV infection (IgM-27.2%, Ag-HAV-16.7%, RNA-22.0%) were detected significantly more often (p> 0.05) than in monkeys kept at the Colony (IgM-7.5%, HAV-Ag - 5.2%, RNA - 3.6%). In general, anti-IgG reactivity ranged from 1.064 to 2.073 OD450, anti-IgM ranged from 0.546 to 1.059 OD450. The number of HAV-Ag was 0.496 - 1.995 OD450. RNA HAV only in rhesus monkeys and cynomolgys monkeys born at the Colony, as well as in imported vervet monkeys was detected.
Conclusions: The data obtained indicate a wide circulation of HAV among monkeys born in the Adler Primate Center and among the imported animals. Markers of "fresh" HAV infection varied depending on the species of monkeys and their origin.
Keywords: HAV RNA; anti-HAV (IgG and IgM); hepatitis E; non-human primates.