Hepatitis and Jaundice Associated with Immunization against Certain Virus Diseases: (Section of Comparative Medicine).
Abstract: (1) Among 3,100 persons immunized against yellow fever with virus and immune serum over a period of five years, 89 cases of jaundice have been traced.(2) The symptoms are those of a hepatitis and closely resemble those produced by common infective hepatic jaundice, cases of which have frequently been noted as occurring in the same areas.(3) The average period between the time of inoculation and the development of hepatitis is between two and three months.(4) Attention is directed to the occurrence of hepatitis in horses, usually two to three months after immunization against the viruses of horse sickness and equine encephalomyelitis, and also after the injection of horse serum containing antitoxins against Cl. welchii toxins. Similar symptoms were observed, though to a lesser extent, in normal horses.(5) The only factor common to the inoculated horses and men was the injection of homologous proteins, either in sera or in tissue extracts.(6) The only theories which at present explain the observed facts are that either (1) a hepatotoxic virus is introduced with the virus inoculum or that (2) two factors combine to induce the hepatitis (a) a hepatotoxic substance present in the homologous sera or tissue extract injected and (b) an infective agent which, in the case at least of human beings, is probably the causal agent of common infective hepatic jaundice.
Publication Date: 1938-05-01 PubMed ID: 19991522PubMed Central: PMC2076939
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper investigates the cause of reported jaundice cases among people immunized against certain viral diseases, suggesting potential factors like the introduction of a toxic virus or a combination of a potentially harmful substance with an infective agent already present in the body.
Key Findings
- The research investigated the occurrence of jaundice in a sample population that had received immunization against yellow fever. A total of 89 cases of jaundice were traced among the 3,100 immunized people over five years. The symptoms were consistent with hepatitis and were similar to those caused by common infective hepatic jaundice.
- The symptoms typically appeared two to three months after inoculation, implying a possible connection between the immunization and the development of hepatitis.
- The study also reported similar observations in horses that had been immunized against certain viruses, or had been given horse serum containing antibodies against certain toxins. These horses also showed symptoms of hepatitis, usually two to three months after receiving the immunization or serum.
Theories Proposed
- The researchers proposed two possible explanations for these observations. One theory is that the hepatitis could be caused by a hepatotoxic (liver damaging) virus introduced into the organism with the virus used for immunization.
- The second theory suggests a two-factor approach. Hepatitis might occur due to a combination of a potentially harmful substance found in the administered sera or tissue and an infective agent already present in the body. This infective agent, in the case of humans, is likely the causal agent of hepatitis.
Significance of the Research
- This research has potential implications for vaccine safety. It is necessary to further examine the associations found and clarify whether they are causal in nature or simply coincidental. If the inoculation indeed introduces a hepatotoxic element into the patient’s system, it may be necessary to modify the vaccine or develop treatment strategies to neutralize this risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Findlay GM, Maccallum FO.
(1938).
Hepatitis and Jaundice Associated with Immunization against Certain Virus Diseases: (Section of Comparative Medicine).
Proc R Soc Med, 31(7), 799-806.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Thomas E, Yoneda M, Schiff ER. Viral hepatitis: past and future of HBV and HDV.. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2015 Feb 2;5(2):a021345.
- Thomas RE, Lorenzetti DL, Spragins W. Mortality and morbidity among military personnel and civilians during the 1930s and World War II from transmission of hepatitis during yellow fever vaccination: systematic review.. Am J Public Health 2013 Mar;103(3):e16-29.
- Bradley WH. Homologous Serum Jaundice.. Proc R Soc Med 1946 Aug;39(10):649-54.
- Havens WP. PERIOD OF INFECTIVITY OF PATIENTS WITH HOMOLOGOUS SERUM JAUNDICE AND ROUTES OF INFECTION IN THIS DISEASE.. J Exp Med 1946 May 31;83(6):441-7.
- HORSTEBROCK R. [Recent knowledge about hepatitis infectiosa (epidemica) and related forms of jaundice].. Klin Wochenschr 1947 Dec 1;24-25(57-58):904-10.
- COLBERT JW Jr. Review of animal experimentation in infectious hepatitis and in serum hepatitis.. Yale J Biol Med 1949 Mar;21(4):335-43.
- Carle BN, Dewhirst WH, Braun W, Eaton MD. Experiments on the Transmission of an Icterogenic Agent in Yellow Fever Vaccine to Horses and Swine.. J Bacteriol 1944 Jul;48(1):45-69.
- JORDAN J, MIRICK GS. An infectious hepatitis of undetermined origin in mice. I. Description of the disease.. J Exp Med 1955 Nov 1;102(5):601-16.
- McMichael J. Observations out of time.. Ulster Med J 1965 Dec;34(2):103-10.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
