Woodchuck hepatitis virus

Last updated
Woodchuck hepatitis virus
Virus classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Pararnavirae
Phylum: Artverviricota
Class: Revtraviricetes
Order: Blubervirales
Family: Hepadnaviridae
Genus: Orthohepadnavirus
Species:
Orthohepadnavirus marmotae

Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is a species of the genus Orthohepadnavirus . It was first discovered in 1977 in a captive population of Marmota monax , but has since been discovered in wild populations in the Eastern United States. [1] Infected woodchucks which are unable to clear the infection inevitably develop hepatocellular carcinoma; this has led to the use of WHV in woodchucks as a model for human Hepatitis B virus infections. [2]

References

  1. Tyler, Gail V.; Summers, Jesse W.; Synder, Robert L. (1981). "Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus in Natural Woodchuck Populations". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 12 (2): 297–301. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-17.2.297 . PMID   7241716. S2CID   27109364.
  2. Tennant, W. C. (1999). "The Woodchuck Model of Hepatitis B Virus Infection". Handbook of animal models of infection: experimental models in antimicrobial chemotherapy. Academic Press, San Diego. ISBN   978-0-12-775390-4.