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PubMed2004

Titration of hepatitis C virus in chimpanzees for determining the copy number required for transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the copy number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, determined by nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) for screening blood units in Japan, that can transmit infection to chimpanzees. METHODS: Fresh-frozen plasma with markers of HCV infection, as well as inocula pedigreed from 1 of them, were evaluated for the infectious activity in chimpanzees. RESULTS: One unit each (273-282 ml) of fresh-frozen plasma from 2 blood donors or a pool from 13 donors to make a unit, which contained high-titered antibody to HCV but without HCV RNA detectable by NAT, did not infect any of 3 chimpanzees. Two chimpanzees were infected, however, when they were inoculated with 1 ml of serum from a blood donor in the 'window period' of HCV infection and containing 7.0 x 10(6) copies/ml of HCV RNA. The preacute phase serum from 1 of them harvested 7 weeks after the inoculation was titrated in 2 chimpanzees, and an inoculum containing approximately 2 x 10(1) copies of HCV RNA could transmit infection to both of them. CONCLUSION: Approximately 20 copies of HCV can transmit infection to recipients, which needs to be taken into consideration in planning the screening of blood units for HCV RNA by NAT. Although the sensitivity of present NAT could be improved further, there would be a limit of it in detecting a low-level HCV RNA in the window period of donors with the infectious capacity in recipients.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Contrasting chimpanzees and bonobos: nearest neighbor distances and choices.

In an effort to understand factors underlying differences in the social organization of Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus, we measured the nearest neighbor distances and choices for chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and for bonobos in Lomako Forest, Zaire. We assume that the spatial organization of a set of individuals should reflect the underlying relationships between them. Bonobos were found to have smaller nearest neighbor distances than chimpanzees. The distribution and variability of the distances suggested that chimpanzees have a more restricted range of nearest neighbor distances than bonobos, avoiding situations of very close proximity. Selection of the sex of the nearest neighbor by a focal animal differed between the species. For example, male bonobos rarely had another male as their nearest neighbor, while male chimpanzees frequently did. Similarly, male bonobos tended to move apart when observed together, while it was female chimpanzees who tended to move apart when together. These observations are considered with respect to the nature of the social interactions in these species.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Human sickle erythrocytes: survival in chimpanzees.

The survival characteristics of human sickle (SS) erythrocytes (RBCs) transfused to intact chimpanzees were determined. The mean post-transfusion recovery of 51Cr-labelled SS RBCs in four chimpanzees was 30.5% +/- 15.2 SD, and the half-life survival was 4.2 h +/- 0.8 SD. The recovery of control (hemoglobin AA) human red cells in five chimpanzees was complete and their mean intravascular T 1/2 was 22.3 h. Shorter survival of sickle erythrocytes was also shown by transfusing chimpanzees with mixtures of human cells such as 51Cr AA RBCs and 59Fe SS RBCs, or 51Cr SS RBCs and non-labelled fetal (cord blood) erythrocytes. The difference in survival of AA and SS RBCs resembles that in human recipients and was probably caused by sickling of SS cells in the chimpanzee circulation. These primate animals could, therefore, be used as a model for in vivo studies of sickle cell disease.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed2006

Foxp3+CD4+CD25+ T cells control virus-specific memory T cells in chimpanzees that recovered from hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a global health problem because it readily establishes persistent infection and a vaccine is not available. CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells have been implicated in HCV persistence because their frequency is increased in the blood of HCV-infected patients and their in vitro depletion results in increased IFN-gamma production by HCV-specific T cells. Studying a well-characterized cohort of 16 chimpanzees, the sole animal model for HCV infection, we here demonstrate that the frequency of Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T(Regs)) and the extent of suppression was as high in spontaneously HCV-recovered chimpanzees as in persistently HCV-infected chimpanzees. Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Regs) suppressed IFN-gamma production, expansion, and activation-induced cell death of HCV-specific T cells after recovery from HCV infection and in persistent HCV infection. Thus, T(Reg) cells control HCV-specific T cells not only in persistent infection but also after recovery, where they may regulate memory T-cell responses by controlling their activation and preventing apoptosis. However, Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Reg) cells of both HCV-recovered and HCV-infected chimpanzees differed from Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)T(Reg) cells of HCV-naive chimpanzees in increased IL-2 responsiveness and lower T-cell receptor excision circle content, implying a history of in vivo proliferation. This result suggests that HCV infection alters the population of Foxp3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Reg) cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Controllability in environmental enrichment for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

This study considers the use of nonsocial environmental enrichment by captive chimpanzees at the Primate Foundation of Arizona. The goal was to determine whether a relationship existed between controllability of enrichment items by captive chimpanzees and frequency of use. The study measured controllability, the ability of nonhuman animals to alter aspects of their environment by the potential destructibility of the enrichment item. This study examined additional factors that may affect enrichment use: individual age, sex, rearing history, social group composition, and availability of outdoor access. The chimpanzees in the study used destructible items--the enrichment category with the highest level of controllability--more than indestructible items across all age, sex, and rearing classes. Thus, controllability seems to be an important factor in chimpanzee enrichment. Younger individuals and groups with outdoor access used enrichment more than did older individuals and groups with indoor-only access. Individual sex, rearing history, and social group composition had minimal effects on enrichment use. These results support the importance of control to captive chimpanzees and further enable captive management to customize enrichment programs to the needs of particular animals.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

Corticotropin-releasing hormone in chimpanzee and gorilla pregnancies.

In humans, the length of gestation and the onset of parturition have been linked to the exponential production of placental CRH and a late gestational decline in maternal plasma CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP). CRH has been shown to have direct effects on the myometrium and on the fetal adrenal, where it stimulates production of the estrogen precursor dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate. In vitro placental CRH production is stimulated by cortisol and inhibited by progesterone. To determine whether this mechanism might operate in other apes, we sampled eight chimpanzees and two gorillas through their pregnancies for CRH, CRH-BP, cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, and alpha-fetoprotein. We show that both chimpanzee and gorilla maternal plasma CRH concentrations rise exponentially as observed in the human. The gorillas exhibited a human-like antepartum fall in CRH-BP, whereas CRH-BP in the chimpanzee remained stable. Pregnancy-associated changes in cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, and alpha-fetoprotein were qualitatively similar to those observed in humans. Maternal plasma cortisol correlated with plasma CRH in both gorillas (r = 0.60; P < 0.05) and chimpanzees (r = 0.36; P < 0.02). Further, there was a strong correlation between plasma estradiol and the log of plasma CRH in the gorilla (r = 0.93; P < 0.0001) and in the chimpanzee (r = 0.72; P < 0.001), which is consistent with the hypothesis that placental CRH determines the placental production of estradiol by stimulating the production of fetal adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Plasma CRH and progesterone were positively correlated providing no in vivo support for progesterone inhibition of CRH release.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Secretion of inhibin A and inhibin B throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period in chimpanzees.

Plasma concentrations of inhibin A and inhibin B during pregnancy and early lactation in chimpanzees were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma samples were taken from five pregnant chimpanzees at 6-9, 10, 20 and 25 weeks of pregnancy, and following parturition. Throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period, circulating inhibin A and inhibin B concentrations remained low, at similar levels to those during the normal menstrual cycle in chimpanzees. Concentrations of inhibin A in the placental homogenate were high enough to be measured by the ELISA and by bioassay, whereas circulating inhibin bioactivities in late pregnancy were too low to be measured. Plasma concentrations of FSH remained low with no significant changes throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17beta and progesterone at 25 weeks of pregnancy were much higher than normal menstrual cycle levels. It was concluded that in chimpanzees the levels of circulating inhibin A and inhibin B remained low throughout pregnancy and the early postpartum period, and that the concentrations of bioactive dimeric inhibin did not increase towards the end of pregnancy. The suppression of circulating FSH levels during pregnancy is suggested to be controlled by steroid hormones that increased significantly in late pregnancy, and the present findings further suggest that the secretory pattern and role of inhibin during pregnancy in chimpanzees may be different from that in human and other primates.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) spermatozoa osmotic tolerance and cryoprotectant permeability characteristics.

Osmotic properties of chimpanzee spermatozoa were studied at 22 degrees C. An electronic particle counter was used to determine the isosmotic cell volume, and the volume response after exposure to four commonly used cryoprotectants: dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol. The data were analyzed to determine the hydraulic conductivity and the permeability coefficients for the four cryoprotectants. The osmotically inactive volume fraction was determined using a Boyle van't Hoff plot of cells exposed to sodium chloride solutions. A computer-assisted semen analysis system was used to determine the osmotic tolerance of chimp spermatozoa, as well as the effects of a one-step addition and removal of 1 M permeating cryoprotectant on sperm motility. The isosmotic volume of chimpanzee sperm is 27.7 microm3. The osmotically inactive cell fraction is 69%. Hydraulic conductivity was higher in the presence of ethylene glycol: 4.09 +/- 0.76 (mean +/- SEM) and propylene glycol: 3.91 +/- 0.71 as compared to dimethyl sulfoxide: 3.49 +/- 0.79 and glycerol: 2.83 +/- 0.40 microm/min per atmosphere. The permeability of chimpanzee sperm in ethylene glycol (2.18 +/- 0.40 x 10(-3) cm/min) and propylene glycol (1.75 +/- 0.17 x 10(-3) cm/min) was higher than in glycerol (1.42 +/- 0.12 x 10(-3) cm/min) and dimethyl sulfoxide (0.82 +/- 0.015 x 10(-3) cm/min). Although chimpanzee sperm tolerated osmotic stress in the range of 169-400 mOsm very well, loss of motility was observed as the solution concentrations diverged from isosmotic condition. Exposure to the four cryoprotectants at 1 M did not cause a significant reduction in sperm motility. This information on membrane permeability characteristics and cryoprotectant tolerance will aid in designing more reliable cryopreservation protocols for chimpanzee sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Lentivirus infections and mechanisms of disease resistance in chimpanzees.

One year after the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was pinpointed as the etiological agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans, chimpanzees were identified as one of the few living species also capable of sustaining persistent HIV-1 infection. During the mid to late 1980s, as the AIDS epidemic spread globally in humans, the chimpanzee was eagerly looked to for answers concerning effective AIDS therapies and a possible HIV vaccine. Although from the complicated inter-relationship of the AIDS virus with the human immune system, neither an effective vaccine nor a therapy has emerged, one remarkable observation has been that, unlike humans, chimpanzees are relatively resistant to the development of AIDS. In the meantime, HIV-1 vaccine and therapy research has moved on to the SHIV/SIVmac rhesus model as an alternative AIDS model for which disease intervention studies can be better performed, and chimpanzees are rarely studied anymore. However, pertinent questions about the mechanisms of resistance to AIDS in this species beg to be answered. After more than twenty years, the spotlight has recently been turned once again on to the chimpanzee, in the intense search for the origin of the AIDS epidemic. Here we review the history of HIV-1 infection in this species as well as the observations that have led to some of the current leading hypotheses regarding the resistance to AIDS in naturally infected African primates.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A novel, nonclassical MHC class I molecule specific to the common chimpanzee.

All expressed human MHC class I genes (HLA-A, -B, -C, -E, -F, and -G) have functional orthologues in the MHC of the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). In contrast, a nonclassical MHC class I gene discovered in the chimpanzee is not present in humans or the other African ape species. In exons and more so in introns, this Patr-AL gene is similar to the expressed A locus in the orangutan, Popy-A, suggesting they are orthologous. Patr-AL/Popy-A last shared a common ancestor with the classical MHC-A locus >20 million years ago. Population analysis revealed little Patr-AL polymorphism: just three allotypes differing only at residues 52 and 91. Patr-AL is expressed in PBMC and B cell lines, but at low level compared with classical MHC class I. The Patr-AL polypeptide is unusually basic, but its glycosylation, association with beta(2)-microglobulin, and antigenicity at the cell surface are like other MHC class I. No Patr-AL-mediated inhibition of polyclonal chimpanzee NK cells was detected. The Patr-AL gene is present in 50% of chimpanzee MHC haplotypes, correlating with presence of a 9.8-kb band in Southern blots. The flanking regions of Patr-AL contain repetitive/retroviral elements not flanking other class I genes. In sequenced HLA class I haplotypes, a similar element is present in the A*2901 haplotype but not the A*0201 or A*0301 haplotypes. This element, 6 kb downstream of A*2901, appears to be the relic of a human gene related to Patr-AL. Patr-AL has characteristics of a class I molecule of innate immunity with potential to provide common chimpanzees with responses unavailable to humans.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1985

Parasitologic and immunologic studies of experimental Plasmodium falciparum infection in nonsplenectomized chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Parasitologic, hematologic, and immunologic parameters were monitored in intact (nonsplenectomized), adult chimpanzees infected with a "chimp-adapted" strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Following primary and secondary injections of 10(9) P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes, each chimpanzee developed a low grade parasitemia (up to 1,000/mm3) and maintained the infection without evidence of eliminating the parasites. Hematologic and serum biochemical values, as well as the majority of immunologic parameters tested, remained unaltered in infected chimpanzees. However, 2 weeks after infection T cells from infected chimpanzees demonstrated an enhanced response in vitro to stimulation with the mitogen PHA, and monocyte phagocytic activity for antibody-coated erythrocytes (Fc-mediated phagocytosis) increased significantly. During malarial infection, apes developed a strong T cell proliferative response to P. falciparum antigens and monocytes showed enhanced phagocytic activity for P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the absence of immune serum. These results suggest that cellular immune mechanisms, especially macrophage activation, may help control, but not eliminate, P. falciparum malaria in chimpanzees.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Plasmodium vivax infections in chimpanzees for sporozoite challenge studies in monkeys.

The development and testing of vaccines directed against Plasmodium vivax has relied on Saimiri and Aotus monkeys as the animal test system and on chimpanzees to provide infective gametocytes to produce sporozoites for monkey challenge studies and vaccine development. One sporozoite-induced and 29 blood-induced infections with the Salvador I strain of P. vivax were studied in splenectomized chimpanzees. Eighteen primary infections with P. vivax resulted in maximum parasite counts ranging from 1,519 to 81,810/ microliters (median 29,100/microliters). Twelve infections induced in animals previously infected with the homologous or heterologous strains of P. vivax had maximum parasite counts ranging from 155 to 14,136/microliters (median 1,736/microliters). A total of 202 of 237 lots containing a total of 293,175 Anopheles freeborni, An. stephensi, An. gambiae, An. dirus, An. quadrimaculatus, and An. maculatus mosquitoes were infected by membrane feeding on gametocytes from chimpanzees. Despite lower levels of parasitemia during secondary (reinfection) parasitemia, 66 of 70 lots of mosquitoes (94.3%) were infected. Based on the mean number of oocysts per positive mosquito gut, An. freeborni was more heavily infected than An. stephensi; An. stephensi was more heavily infected than An. gambiae; there was no significant difference between An. stephensi and An. dirus. Sporozoites from An. stephensi, An. gambiae, An. dirus, and An. freeborni infected with the Salvador I strain of P. vivax produced in chimpanzees were used to infect 193 Saimiri and six Aotus monkeys as well as one chimpanzee.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Toxicity, biological activity, and pharmacokinetics of TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed antiviral protein in chimpanzees and adult patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of TXU (anti-CD7)-pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected chimpanzees and adult patients. At a total dose of 100 microg/kg, TXU-PAP did not cause severe (grade >/= 3) toxicity in any of the four HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected or two healthy chimpanzees. The only side effects were a transient elevation of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase between days 2 and 14 without a concomitant rise in total bilirubin levels and a decrease in the serum albumin levels between days 1 and 5 without any concomitant weight gain or peripheral edema. TXU-PAP showed favorable pharmacokinetics in chimpanzees with a plasma elimination half-life of 5.1 to 12.0 h and a systemic clearance of 5.8 to 15.1 ml/h/kg. At 2 months after initiation of the TXU-PAP infusions, the HIV-1 burden was reduced to below-detection levels in three of the four chimpanzees, and in the remaining chimpanzee, the HIV burden was <500 RNA copies/ml at 2 weeks but returned to the pretreatment levels by 2 months. TXU-PAP was well tolerated by HIV-1-infected adult patients who received a single 5 microg/kg i.v. infusion of TXU-PAP. TXU-PAP showed very favorable pharmacokinetics in these patients with a relatively long plasma elimination half-life of 12.4 +/- 1.4 h, a mean residence time of 17.9 +/- 2.0 h, and a slow systemic clearance of 2.7 +/- 0.7 ml/h/kg. Concentrations of TXU-PAP required for effective inhibition of HIV-1 replication in preclinical models were achieved in HIV-1-infected patients at the 5 microg/kg dose level without any adverse reactions, and the mean value for AUC was 3059 +/- 721 ng. h/ml. The 1-h postinfusion plasma samples from TXU-PAP-treated patients showed potent anti-HIV activity in vitro and inhibited the replication of HIV in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) even at a 1:100 dilution. Although treatment with TXU-PAP at the 5 microg/kg dose level does not provide sustained therapeutic levels, it was capable of reducing the viral burden in six of six patients evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a clinical pharmacokinetics study of a PAP immunoconjugate in HIV-infected patients. The favorable long plasma elimination half-life of TXU-PAP in combination with its low toxicity provides the basis for further investigation of TXU-PAP as a potential anti-HIV agent.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Ultrastructure of normal and hepatitis virus infected human and chimpanzee liver: similarities and differences.

Ultrastructure of liver biopsy specimens obtained from normal and hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected livers of patients and chimpanzees were compared. Nuclear alterations (glycogen particles, nuclear bodies, "vermicellar bodies", etc.), intracytoplasmic crystalloid inclusions were observed before and after the HBV and HCV infections both in human and chimpanzee hepatocytes, however, some of them were more common during the viral infection. Extreme endoplasmic reticulum dilatation characterized the human, while the presence of membranous cytoplasmic inclusions the hepatocytes of chimpanzees during HCV infection. Interferon-associated membrane alterations were noted during acute or chronic hepatitis, however, in slightly different forms in humans and chimpanzees. Data suggest to be precautions in the interpretation of the ultrastructural alteration observed in different species even to be so closely related as humans and chimpanzees especially during infection with hepatotropic viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Normal hematologic and serum clinical chemistry values for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

In the study reported here, reference intervals for hematologic and serum clinical chemistry variables in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) were developed and characterized. Data were collected longitudinally across a 10-year period for 86 subjects at the Primate Foundation of Arizona (PFA). Variables included nine standard hematologic and 25 standard serum clinical chemistry values. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for main effects by age and sex. In addition, PFA mean and range values were compared with those published for humans and six other chimpanzee colonies. The ANOVA results suggest an age effect on hematologic (mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, neutrophils) and serum clinical chemical (creatinine, total protein, globulin, tryglycerides, direct bilirubin, iron, (gamma-glutamyltransferase, alanine transaminase, creatine kinase) values. In addition, sex had a main effect on several variables (red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, uric acid and sodium concentrations, and aspartate transminase and creatine kinase activities); values for males were greater than those for females. Further, human and chimpanzee mean and range values often were indistinguishable from one another. However, changes in human and chimpanzee values associated with age differ and suggest that hematologic and serum clinical chemistry values may be differentially affected by physical and sexual maturation in humans and chimpanzees.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

[Experimental vaccination against HIV-1 protects the chimpanzee against challenge with injections of infected lymphocytes].

Two chimpanzees were immunized against HIV-1 : C-339, using whole inactivated HIV-1 followed by purified recombinant gp160 and a KLH-V3 peptide conjugate; and, C-499, using purified recombinant gp160 and p18gag followed by a mixture of uncoupled V3 peptides. The antigens were emulsified prior to use with one volume Syntex adjuvant SAF-1 containing 1 mg/ml Threonyl-MDP. The animals were challenged twice one year apart by the intravenous route, the first time with cell-free virus, using 40 chimpanzee infectious units (100 TCID50) of the titrated HTLV-IIIB virus stock from the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD; and the second time with cell-associated virus, using 6 x 10(5) viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a naive chimpanzee which had been injected 3 months earlier with cell-free virus and had become virus-positive within a few weeks. From end-point titration of C-087 PBMC on indicator human PBMC, using a reverse transcriptase assay, this represented the equivalent of at least 15 infected cells. A 3rd chimpanzee, C-435, a näive animal, was also injected with 6 x 10(5) PBMC from C-087 to serve as a positive control. The PMBC of the animals were co-cultivated with fresh human PBMC and assayed for reverse transcriptase on a regular basis. In parallel, ELISA and Western blot analyses were carried out. Virus was detected in the PBMC from C-435 beginning at 4 weeks after challenge. This was followed by seroconversion of the animal to the Env and Gag antigens. By contrast, no virus could be detected in the PBMC from chimpanzees C-499 and C-339 during 7 and 12 months, respectively. Lymph node biopsies and bone marrow aspirates from these animals remained virus-negative upon co-cultivation with human PBMC. PBMC, bone marrow aspirates and lymph node biopsies also scored HIV-negative by polymerase chain reaction. Finally, no anamnestic antibody response of the animals could be detected by ELISA, and no modification of their western blot profiles that could have signed HIV-infection were observed during the follow-up period. C-499 accidentally developed an infectious endocarditis with congestive liver and kidney failure and had to be euthanized at 7 months post-challenge. Specimens from its brain, kidneys, liver, mesenteric nodes, pancreas, salivary glands, and spleen were processed for co-cultivation with human PBMC. No evidence for the presence of virus could be detected by reverse transcriptase assays in any of these co-cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1991

A serologic study of naturally acquired leprosy in chimpanzees.

Data from longitudinally obtained serum samples spanning several years has permitted us to identify two chimpanzees with leprosy and to estimate the time of Mycobacterium leprae exposure/infection. The results confirm high levels of specific anti-M. leprae phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) as well as anti-lipo-arabinomannan (anti-LAM) antibodies in both chimpanzees, and identify additional chimpanzees with possible M. leprae exposure. The observations are consistent with the hypothesis that leprosy exists in chimpanzees in the U.S.A. and suggest the possibility that M. leprae may be transmitted among chimpanzees. The data suggest that monitoring anti-PGL-I and anti-LAM IgG and IgM levels longitudinally in leprosy contacts may be useful in the recognition of preclinical leprosy.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Urethral infection in male chimpanzees produced experimentally by Mycoplasma genitalium.

Four young male chimpanzees were inoculated intra-urethrally with a strain (G37) of Mycoplasma genitalium which had been isolated from the urethra of a patient with non-gonococcal urethritis. Two of the chimpanzees became infected as indicated by persistent recovery of the organisms from the urethra for 13 weeks and by an antibody response measured by both metabolism inhibition and micro-immunofluorescence techniques. The numbers of organisms isolated from both animals increased about 4 weeks after inoculation and antibody development was first detected 1 week later. The infected animals developed a minimal and inconsistently detected urethral polymorphonuclear leucocyte response which was not seen in those that were uninfected, nor in a chimpanzee that had been given medium only. The organisms were not isolated and the cellular response was not observed after treatment of the infected chimpanzees with oxytetracycline. One of the animals that had been infected was re-inoculated with strain G37 six months after successful treatment, but although the titre of serum antibody had diminished to its original level urethral recolonization did not occur. The organisms in the inoculum were not attenuated, however, because they infected another chimpanzee that had not had previous experience of M. genitalium. The results are discussed in relation to the potential of this mycoplasma to produce urethritis in man.

Animals↗