Open AccessExperimental leprosy in monkeys. I. Sooty mangabey monkeys: transmission, susceptibility, clinical and pathological findings
Author(s) -
Gormus Bj,
Ke Xu,
Baskin Gb,
Martin Ln,
Bohm Rp,
Blanchard Jl,
Mack Pa,
Ratterree Ms,
McClure Hm,
Meyers Wm
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
leprosy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2162-8807
pISSN - 0305-7518
DOI - 10.5935/0305-7518.19950012
Subject(s) - leprosy , mycobacterium leprae , lepromatous leprosy , medicine , inoculation , erythema , virology , immunology
A total of 31 sooty mangabey monkeys (SMM) (Cercocebus torquatus atys) inoculated by various routes with differing numbers of SMM-origin Mycobacterium leprae (ML) and 4 SMM inoculated with human-origin ML were observed for 4-12 years. SMM-origin ML was more pathogenic in SMM than human-origin ML. The spectrum of disease ranged from indeterminate to borderline and lepromatous in different animals. Some animals developed pure neural leprosy. Erythema nodosum leprosum (SNL) was also observed. Combined intravenous/intracutaneous (IV/IC) routes of inoculation more effectively induced advancing, disseminated lepromatous forms of leprosy; IV or IC routes alone were less effective at comparable doses. Total IV/IC doses of SMM-origin ML equal to or greater than 5 x 10(8), with morphologic indices (MIs) ranging from 5 to 10%, produced advancing, disseminated LL leprosy in 92% of SMM. Lower IV/IC doses and inoculations by a single IV or IC route produced fewer leprosy infections and more spontaneous regressions. As a species, captive SMM are highly susceptible to experimental leprosy and provide an excellent model for the longitudinal study of leprosy.