LETHAL INFECTION OF NEWBORN MICE, CAUSED BY HEPATITIS-C VIRUS

Intracerebral infection of mice aged, 2-3 days with hepatitis C virus (HCV) from chronically infected suckling mouse brain cultures and porc ine embryo cells resulted in the death of animals after 12-14 days. Re peated passages of HCV in animals decreased the incubation period to j ust 3-4 days. Blood serum of surviving mice collected during the 4th w eek postinfection contained antiHCV antibodies detected by enzyme immu noassay and hemagglutination inhibition test. The results are proof of creation of a new in vivo model of experimental HCV infection.