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Electron Microscopy of Infectious AgentsCase 4: Hepatitis Surface Antigen in Hepatocytes.Case Presentation This case illustrates how electron microscopy can be used to document the features of the infective agent. The clinical information included a positive serum test for hepatitis B surface antigen, with possible portal hypertension. On the hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, most of the hepatocytes showed amorphous pink material with a "ground glass" appearance, consistent with hepatitis B surface antigen positivity. Electron microscopy was performed to characterize the ground glass material and attempt to visualize Dane particles in the nuclei. Electron MicroscopyNo Dane particles were identified in the nuclei. However, most of the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum contained spherical or tubular particles which explained the ground glass appearance on LM. |
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 Figure 8 Magnify Image |
There are spherical and tubular structures within the cisternae, and the apparent absence of Dane particles in the nucleus. | |||
 Figure 8 Magnify Image |
This is a higher magnification field that shows rare coated particles approximately 35-45 nm in diameter within membrane bound vesicles in the hepatocyte cytoplasm that may correspond to complete virions. | |||
References
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| Viral lung infection | Hepatic Infection I | Virus in Pleural Fluid Cultures | Hepatic Infection II | |
| September 1998 Case-of-the-Month | ||||