Chimpanzee-associated infectious hepatitis among personnel at an animal hospital.

Eight persons affiliated with an animal hospital in Culver City, California became ill between Decem ber 24, 1970 and January 5, 1971. All had signs and symptoms compatible with viral hepatitis. On January 25, another employee at the animal hos pital contracted a similar illness. This clustering of cases suggested a common source of transmission of the infectious agent. Consequently, a detailed study was made of the epi demic .