Clinical Significance of Recent Investigations of Hepatitis Viruses

A culturally and morphologically similar group of viruses, termed “hemoviruses,” have been isolated from, patients with infectious and serum hepatitis and from apparently healthy persons. There are at least three serotypes. The viruses have been administered orally and intramuscularly to volunteers. The AR-17 and WW-55 serotypes have been shown to be capable of causing human hepatitis. Changes typical of infectious hepatitis have been observed in hepatic tissue in the induced cases, and cellular alterations have been noted during the incubation period.