Viremia and antibody response in green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) infected with dengue virus type 2: A potential model for vaccine testing

The increasingly limited availability and high cost of the hitherto most commonly used monkey species in dengue vaccine research has augmented the importance of identifying alternative suitable models for these studies. In this study we examined the capacity of green monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus ) to develop dengue viremia, and thus provide a potential model for dengue vaccine testing. Monkeys were inoculated with two different doses of dengue virus type 2. All animals in both groups became viremic after inoculation of the virus. In the lower dose group, mean viremia duration of 5.66 days was detected, whereas in the group that received the 10⁶ PFU dose, viremia had a mean duration of only 1.66 days. Antibody titers were similar to those obtained in previous experiments with rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. We conclude that green monkeys develop viremia and antibody responses and therefore provide a potential model for the preclinical evaluation of novel candidates for dengue vaccines.