Abstract: Objective To explore the sensitivy of rabbits to TTV infection. Methods Twelve rabbits were divided into three groups as three generations used fot infectious passag experiment of TTV. Rabbits of the first generation were infected with positive serum of TTV, the second generation were infected with serum from the first generation and those of the third generation with serum taken from the second generation. Result Various degrees of biochemical alteration in serum and pathological changes in liver were found in all experimental rabbits. By nest-PCR, detection on the serum of third generation showed positive. Three of the rabbits were positive with Dig-TTV DNA probe and other one negative. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the positive samples of strain(AB008394) CHI and JX strain TTV, showed the homology 96.7%, 98.3%, and 99.7% respectively, Conclusion Rabbits can be infected with TTV, and are sensitive animals for establishment of an animal model.

Key words: Hepatitis viruses, TTV, New Zeland rabbits, Experimental infection