Hepatitis A Virus

Prepared by: Michael J. Huerkamp, DVM, Diplomate ACLAM
Date: July 27, 1999

Agent: Hepatitis A Virus

Potential Hazard: Hepatitis A virus is a risk in animal handlers and others working with chimpanzees, especially infants. In theory, other nonhuman primates (including owl monkeys and marmosets) which may be naturally or experimentally infected with the virus may also excrete it. Hepatitis A virus may be present in feces, saliva and blood of infected humans and nonhuman primates. Ingestion of feces, stool specimens and other contaminated materials through poor hygienic practices is the primary risk to animal caretakers. However, no human has acquired infection other than from chimpanzees and no case associated with other nonhuman primate species has been reported since 1975. The most frequently reported risk factors for the disease are sexual contact, drug abuse, day care attendance or employment, recent international travel, and food or water. The disease may cause liver failure in humans.

Recommended Precautions: Vaccination against Hepatitis A virus is available to DAR personnel, but is not recommended and is not mandatory. Persons who work with hepatitis A virus-infected primates or with hepatitis A virus in a research laboratory setting should be vaccinated. No other groups have been shown to be at increased risk for hepatitis A virus infection because of occupational exposure. Hepatitis A virus may be present in feces, saliva and blood of infected humans and nonhuman primates. Ingestion of feces, stool specimens and other contaminated materials through poor hygienic practices is the primary risk to animal caretakers. Personnel entering a room housing macaques must wear minimum PPE of a long-sleeve lab coat or gown, latex gloves, a surgical-type mask and protective goggles. Those handling, feeding, treating or manipulating macaques must also wear leather, Kevlar or equivalent protective gloves. Needles and syringes or other sharp objects must not be reused and must be disposed in approved sharps containers without recapping needles or removing them by hand. Eating, drinking, smoking, applying lip balm or cosmetics, and insertion of contact lenses are always prohibited in animal rooms. Hands should always be washed after removing gloves and before handling, preparing or eating food.

References:Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 3rd edition, CDC-NIH, 1993, pp. 105-6, 116-22. Ann Rev Microbiol 33: 41-66, 1979.