Differences among isolates of simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) virus

Simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) virus is a member of the Togaviridae family which currently is unclassified to genus. We have studied the relatedness of four different SHF virus isolates obtained from infected macaque or patas monkeys. Differences were found among isolates in type and severity of disease produced in patas monkeys, cell sensitivity to infection, viral antigens, and levels of specific antibody induced in patas monkeys. Based on these criteria, the four isolates have been grouped in two categories: those producing acute infections in patas monkeys (LVR, P-180) and those producing persistent infections (P-248, P-741). The P-180 isolate induced the most severe disease in experimentally infected patas monkeys, but only occasionally were their infections fatal. Persistently infected patas monkeys were viremic over a period of years, but showed no signs or symptoms of infection. All four isolates were found to be antigenically related by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the P-248 isolate showing the weakest antigenic relationship. However, none of the four isolates induced cross-neutralizing antibodies in infected patas monkeys. High titers of specific IgG antibody (up to 31,250 as determined by ELISA) were induced in acutely infected patas monkeys (LVR, P-180), but antibody was barely detectable (less than or equal to 50) in persistently infected patas monkeys (P-248, P-741). LVR lytically infected USU-104 cells, patas monkey peritoneal macrophages (PMAC), and rhesus monkey PMAC. The P-180 isolate lytically infected both patas monkey PMAC and rhesus monkey PMAC, but not USU-104 cells. The isolates producing persistent infections (P-248, P-741) lytically infected only rhesus monkey PMAC. These results show that marked differences exist among isolates of SHF virus from naturally infected animals. These differences should be useful in categorizing new isolates.     

Cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a simian immunodeficiency virus‐infected rhesus macaque (Macacca mulatta)

Rhesus macaques experimentally infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) experience immunosuppression and often opportunistic infection. Among the most common opportunistic infections are rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV), a ubiquitous betaherpesvirus that undergoes continuous low‐level replication in immunocompetent monkeys. Upon SIV‐mediated immunodeficiency, RhCMV reactivates and results in lesions in numerous organ systems including the nervous and reproductive systems. We report the first case of cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a SIV‐immunocompromised rhesus macaque.     

Experimental congenital disease with simian cytomegalovirus in rhesus monkeys

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occur worldwide and are responsible for severe damage to the child in from one to five newborns per 20,000 births. Animal models of congenital CMV infection resulting in disease have been developed in mice and guinea pigs. We report here the development of ventricular dilatation and leptomeningitis in rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta, following intrauterine infection with rhesus cytomegalovirus (RCMV). Central nervous system (CNS) lesions were associated with low cytomegalovirus fluorescent antibody titers in affected fetuses. In several infected animals, RCMV was isolated at necropsy from neural and nonneural tissues taken shortly after birth. This model allows investigators to study the pathogenesis and prevention of CNS changes following RCMV infection.     

Simian immunodeficiency virus mutants resistant to serum neutralization arise during persistent infection of rhesus monkeys.

We previously described the pattern of sequence variation in gp120 following persistent infection of rhesus monkeys with the pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac239 molecular clone (D.P.W. Burns and R.C. Desrosiers, J. Virol. 65:1843, 1991). Sequence changes were confined largely to five variable regions (V1 to V5), four of which correspond to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 variable regions. Remarkably, 182 of 186 nucleotide substitutions that were documented in these variable regions resulted in amino acid changes. This is an extremely nonrandom pattern, which suggests selective pressure driving amino acid changes in discrete variable domains. In the present study, we investigated whether neutralizing-antibody responses are one selective force responsible at least in part for the observed pattern of sequence variation. Variant env sequences called 1-12 and 8-22 obtained 69 and 93 weeks after infection of a rhesus monkey with cloned SIVmac239 were recombined into the parental SIVmac239 genome, and variant viruses were generated by transfection of cultured cells with cloned DNA. The 1-12 and 8-22 recombinants differ from the parental SIVmac239 at 18 amino acid positions in gp120 and at 5 and 10 amino acid positions, respectively, in gp41. Sequential sera from the monkey infected with cloned SIVmac239 from which the 1-12 and 8-22 variants were isolated showed much higher neutralizing antibody titers to cloned SIVmac239 than to the cloned 1-12 and 8-22 variants. For example, at 55 weeks postinfection the neutralizing antibody titer against SIVmac239 was 640 while those to the variant viruses were 40 and less than 20. Two other rhesus monkeys infected with cloned SIVmac239 showed a similar pattern. Rhesus monkeys were also experimentally infected with the cloned variants so that the type-specific nature of the neutralizing antibody responses could be verified. Indeed, each of these monkeys showed neutralizing-antibody responses of much higher titer to the homologous variant used for infection. These experiments unambiguously demonstrate that SIV mutants resistant to serum neutralization arise during the course of persistent infection of rhesus monkeys.     

Isolation of foamy virus from rhesus, African green and cynomolgus monkey Leukocytes.

Foamy virus (FV) was recovered regularly from the leukocyte of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys and somewhat less often from African green monkey leukocytes. Virus was found in virtually all organs of experimentally infected rhesus monkeys. No illness or pathologic abnormalities were noted in these animals or in any of the naturally infected animals in spite of the prolonged period of viral persistence in various organs and tissues.     

Rhesus monkey model for Leishmania major transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly bites

Leishmaniasis research needs a near-human model for investigations of natural infection processes, immunological responses and evaluation of treatments. Therefore, we developed a reproducible system using Leishmania major Yakimoff & Schokhor (Trypanosomatidae: Kinetoplastida), the cause of Old World zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), transmitted to rhesus monkeys Macaca mulatta (Zimmerman) (Primates: Cercopithecidae) by sandfly bites of experimentally infected Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae). Eight monkeys of presumed Indian origin (Leishmania naive) were exposed to bites of female sandflies that had been infected with L. major by membrane-feeding on human blood seeded with amastigotes isolated from hamster footpad lesions. Infection rates of membrane-fed sandflies averaged > 85% seven days after the infective feed, with uniformly high numbers of promastigotes in the stomodaeal valve region of the sandfly gut. Nodules and ulcerating dermal lesions developed on 7/8 monkeys 2-4 weeks post-bite and persisted for 3-7 months. Monkeys also developed satellite lesions beyond the area of sandfly bites on the head, but not on the chest. Three re-challenged monkeys developed lesions that healed faster than lesions from their primary challenges. After infection, monkeys developed delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to a panel of Leishmania skin test antigens (LSTA) and, when tested by ELISA and IFA, showed significant post-infection antibody titres which typically rose for approximately 170 days and then gradually receded during the next 100 days following the first challenge. After the second challenge, antibody titres spiked higher within approximately 50 days and receded more rapidly. In contrast, four rhesus macaques of Chinese origin developed no lesions following infected sandfly bites, although they raised antibodies and LSTA reactions, indicating subclinical infection.     

Yellow Fever Vaccine. V. Antibody Response in Monkeys Inoculated with Graded Doses of the 17D Vaccine

A dosage equal to or greater than approximately 3.4 Dex (decimal exponent, log(10)) weanling mouse intracerebral 50% lethal dose (LD(50)) was sufficient to elicit a yellow fever antibody response, as determined by the plaque neutralization (PN) test, in better than 90% of vaccinated rhesus monkeys. Lower dosages were progressively less effective in terms of PN titers and the PN and hemagglutination-inhibition serological conversion rates observed. A dose of between 3.4 and 4.2 Dex weanling mouse intracerebral LD(50), or one-tenth to one times the dosage recommended for man, provided an optimal antibody response in monkeys. In rhesus monkeys, in contrast to the findings for man, pre-existing yellow fever antibody did not interfere with the antibody response to yellow fever vaccine. The PN test was felt to be a more sensitive and specific indicator of yellow fever antibody in rhesus monkeys after vaccination than the hemagglutination inhibition or complement fixation tests.     

Elimination of type D retrovirus infection from group-housed rhesus monkeys using serial testing and removal.

Type D retrovirus was successfully eliminated from an infected population of group-housed rhesus monkeys by serial testing of all animals for virus and antibody and subsequent removal of positives. This population of 53 rhesus had been housed together for 1 year prior to the initiation of the test and removal program, with six deaths from type D retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency disease occurring during this period. No new infections were detected after four rounds of testing. Of the 47 animals present at the start of the testing program, 17 (35%) remained after the elimination of type D virus from this group. These animals and their offspring have remained healthy and antibody negative for more than 2 years. These results demonstrate that elimination of type D retroviruses from rhesus macaque colonies is feasible, and that the objective of establishing and maintaining retrovirus-free colonies is realistic and achievable.     

Neutralizing antibody responses in Africa green monkeys naturally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVagm)

Abstract: This study assessed the magnitude and cross-reactivity of the neutralizing antibody response generated by natural SIV infection in wild-caught African green monkeys. Neutralizing antibodies of variable potency, sometimes exceeding a titer of 1:1,000, were detected in 20 of 20 SIV-seropositive African green monkeys in Kenya. Detection of those neutralizing antibodies was dependent on the strain of virus and the cells used for assay, where the most sensitive detection was made with SIVagml532 in Sup T1 cells. Potent neutralization of SIVagml532 was seen with contemporaneous autologous serum. Potent neutralization was also detected with laboratory-passaged SIVmac251 and SIVsmB670, but not with SIVsmE660 and two additional strains of SIVagm. Serum samples from rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) experimentally infected with either SIVmac251 or SIVsmE660 were capable of low-level neutralization of SIVagm. These results indicate that natural infection with SIV can generate strain-specific neutralizing antibodies in African green monkeys. They also indicate that some neutralization determinants of SIVagm are partially shared with SIV strains that arose in sooty mangabys and were subsequently transmitted to rhesus macaques.     

SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴动物模型的建立

目的为了进一步确证SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴的病毒浓度范围,测试动物对病毒的适应性,明确该动物模型的可重复性。方法实验前采集猴血清并进行血清学检查。选出4只无SIV、STLV、SRV/D和B病毒感染的恒河猴,分别用10倍系列稀释的病毒液静脉感染实验猴,使用流氏细胞术、血常规、病毒分离、DNA-PCR和RT-PCR等方法确定实验猴是否被感染,以及感染后恒河猴体内病毒复制和免疫细胞损伤情况。结果实验猴的血浆病毒载量、病毒分离结果、CD4＋/CD8＋比值和CD4＋T细胞数等证实,4.8×105 copies/mL以上浓度的SHIV-KB9病毒液能成功感染中国恒河猴。结论本研究进一步明确了SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴的有效病毒浓度范围,确定了SHIV-KB9病毒感染中国恒河猴的病毒学、免疫学的测定指标,成功的建立了SHIV-KB9/中国恒河猴动物模型。     

Plasmodium coatneyi: alterations of transcapillary escape rate and capillary permeability to fibrinogen in rhesus monkeys

The transcapillary escape rate and plasma clearance of fibrinogen were studied in six rhesus monkeys infected with Plasmodium coatneyi as well as in six control monkeys using 131I-fibrinogen as a tracer. The mean transcapillary escape rate of fibrinogen in the infected group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Both plasma volume and plasma fibrinogen concentration were also elevated in the infected group, these resulting in a significantly higher intravascular fibrinogen mass, plasma clearance rate, and outflux of fibrinogen from the intravascular to the extravascular compartments. Both effective capillary pore area/unit path length available for restricted diffusion and the specific permeability coefficient of plasma fibrinogen in the infected monkeys were also found to be significantly higher than those of the control group. These findings indicated that there was an increased leakage of plasma fibrinogen from the circulation into the extravascular space which was due either to increased capillary surface area and/or to an increased capillary permeability in rhesus monkeys infected with P. coatneyi.     

RT-SHIV感染中国恒河猴及体内传代

目的了解RT-SHIV感染中国恒河猴的感染特点,研究RT-SHIV在中国恒河猴中传代特点;建立RT-SHIV中国恒河猴动物模型,为评价HIV-1药物有效性提供动物平台。方法选择4只健康恒河猴,其中两只动物经上肢静脉感染RT-SHIV病毒,感染急性期采取外周血分离CD8-PBMC,扩增病毒,将新制备的病毒静脉感染另外两只中国恒河猴,通过监测血浆病毒载量,CD4＋/CD8＋比值,CD4＋T淋巴细胞和B淋巴细胞的绝对数,了解实验猴的感染状态,同时分析病毒RT基因变异情况。结果 4只动物均获得系统性感染,且传代动物急性期表现更为强烈,RT基因在感染和传代的过程中共观察到3个氨基酸的改变。结论本研究为RT-SHIV中国恒河猴模型的建立提供了基础信息。     

Experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with Entamoeba histolytica mimics human infection

Experimental infection of Entamoeba histolytica was successfully established in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Parasites of proven pathogenicity maintained through liver passage in hamsters were used in this study. Laparotomized monkeys were inoculated intracecally/intrahepatically with trophozoites, or by oral administration of cysts (2000 cysts/ml). The cysts were isolated from an infected human stool sample. Formation of typical amebic lesions in the inoculated tissues along with alterations in hematologic indices were studied in the infected monkeys. All the experimentally inoculated monkeys showed leukocytosis and mild neutrophilia, while the hemoglobin content and levels of blood sugar and blood urea remained unaltered during the post-infection period. Specific antiamebic antibodies were readily detectable in post-infected sera.     

Vaccine protection against simian immunodeficiency virus in monkeys using recombinant gamma-2 herpesvirus

Recombinant strains of replication-competent rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) were constructed in which strong promoter/enhancer elements were used to drive expression of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Env or Gag or a Rev-Tat-Nef fusion protein. Cultured rhesus monkey fibroblasts infected with each recombinant strain were shown to express the expected protein. Three RRV-negative and two RRV-positive rhesus monkeys were inoculated intravenously with a mixture of these three recombinant RRVs. Expression of SIV Gag was readily detected in lymph node biopsy specimens taken at 3 weeks postimmunization. Impressive anti-SIV cellular immune responses were elicited on the basis of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) tetramer staining and gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. Responses were much greater in magnitude in the monkeys that were initially RRV negative but were still readily detected in the two monkeys that were naturally infected with RRV at the time of immunization. By 3 weeks postimmunization, responses measured by MHC tetramer staining in the two Mamu-A*01(+) RRV-negative monkeys reached 9.3% and 13.1% of all CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood to the Gag CM9 epitope and 2.3% and 7.3% of all CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood to the Tat SL8 epitope. Virus-specific CD8(+) T cell responses persisted at high levels up to the time of challenge at 18 weeks postimmunization, and responding cells maintained an effector memory phenotype. Despite the ability of the RRVenv recombinant to express high levels of Env in cultured cells, and despite the appearance of strong anti-RRV antibody responses in immunized monkeys, anti-Env antibody responses were below our ability to detect them. Immunized monkeys, together with three unimmunized controls, were challenged intravenously with 10 monkey infectious doses of SIVmac239. All five immunized monkeys and all three controls became infected with SIV, but peak viral loads were 1.2 to 3.0 log(10) units lower and chronic-phase viral loads were 1.0 to 3.0 log(10) units lower in immunized animals than the geometric mean of unimmunized controls. These differences were statistically significant. Anti-Env antibody responses following challenge indicated an anamnestic response in the vaccinated monkeys. These findings further demonstrate the potential of recombinant herpesviruses as preventive vaccines for AIDS. We hypothesize that this live, replication-competent, persistent herpesvirus vector could match, or come close to matching, live attenuated strains of SIV in the degree of protection if the difficulty with elicitation of anti-Env antibody responses can be overcome.     

Viremia and serum antibodies in Macacus rhesus monkey after inapparent infection with European tick-borne encephalitis virus.

1. Inapparent infection was called forth in M. rhesus monkeys by means of subcutaneous inoculation of ETBE virus. 2. Viremia was found in 18 (86 per cent) of 21 monkeys. In all the 18 monkeys, specific virus-neutralizing antibodies were found; in 17 of them complement-fixing antibodies developed in addition. 3. Neutralizing antibodies (N greater than or equal to 1.7 log10) were first recorded on 10th day with a peak on 32nd day, retaining, after a small decrease, a relatively high level in all reacting animals. 4. Complement-fixing antibodies were first found on 18th day, showing a peak on 22nd day whereafter they dropped considerably or even disappeared so that on 150th day they were present in a low titre in only 35 per cent of the originally reacting monkeys. 5. The findings were compared with the situation in naturally infected humans and in hamsters infected inapparently (experimentally) with ETBE virus.     

Infection of an HIV-1/SIVmac Chimeric Virus Having HIV-1 env to Macaque Monkeys via the Vaginal Cavity

We previously reported that an HIV-1/SIVmac chimeric virus (designated as NM-3rN) having HIV-1 env efficiently infected macaque monkeys by intravenous inoculation. In this study, this chimeric virus was atraumatically inoculated into the vaginal cavity of two rhesus and one cynomolgus monkeys. Although antibody response and detection of proviral genome by PCR were observed in both rhesus monkeys, virus recovery was only once from PBMC in one of them. In the cynomolgus monkey, no virus was recovered and proviral DNA detection was rare. Thus, vaginal inoculation with NM-3rN resulted in poor systemic infection, implying the presence of selective pressure while passing through mucosal membranes.     

恒河猴感染SARS-CoV的病毒学、血清学检测

目的对感染SARS-CoV的8只恒河猴进行病毒学、血清学指标检测。方法SARS-CoV经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第1天开始到5、7、10、15、20、30和60天分别安乐处死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和抗体测定。结果RT-PCR证实感染病毒检出时间为5~16d,8只猴中的5只分离到了病毒,感染15d后可检测到抗体。结论感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴不仅出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,也在一定时期内排毒,出现特异免疫反应,这些指标均可作为药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的重要参数。     

Transmission of Sarcocystis suihominis from humans to swine to nonhuman primates (Pan troglodytes, Macaca mulatta, Macaca irus).

Sporocysts of Sarcocystis suihominis obtained from human feces were used to infect swine. Heart, tongue, and skeletal muscle from experimentally infected and noninfected control swine were fed via stomach tube to nonhuman primates including chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca irus). All primates fed infected swine tissues shed sporocysts beginning 13 to 15 days postinfection and were still shedding sporocysts at the conclusion of the experiment, 30 days postinfection. Rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys were fed infected swine tissues a second time and shed sporocysts. All primates remained in good health throughout both experiments and exhibited no unusual clinical signs as a result of infection.     

Experimental infection of rhesus and pig-tailed macaques with macaque rhadinoviruses

The recognition of naturally occurring rhadinoviruses in macaque monkeys has spurred interest in their use as models for human infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8). Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were inoculated intravenously with rhadinovirus isolates derived from these species (rhesus rhadinovirus [RRV] and pig-tailed rhadinovirus [PRV]). Nine rhadinovirus antibody-negative and two rhadinovirus antibody-positive monkeys were used for these experimental inoculations. Antibody-negative animals clearly became infected following virus inoculation since they developed persisting antibody responses to virus and virus was isolated from peripheral blood on repeated occasions following inoculation. Viral sequences were also detected by PCR in lymph node, oral mucosa, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells following inoculation. Experimentally infected animals developed peripheral lymphadenopathy which resolved by 12 weeks following inoculation, and these animals have subsequently remained free of disease. No increased pathogenicity was apparent from cross-species infection, i.e., inoculation of rhesus macaques with PRV or of pig-tailed macaques with RRV, whether the animals were antibody positive or negative at the time of virus inoculation. Coinoculation of additional rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolate SIVmac251 and macaque-derived rhadinovirus resulted in an attenuated antibody response to both agents and shorter mean survival compared to SIVmac251-inoculated controls (155.5 days versus 560.1 days; P < 0.019). Coinfected and immunodeficient macaques died of a variety of opportunistic infections characteristic of simian AIDS. PCR analysis of sorted peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated a preferential tropism of RRV for CD20(+) B lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate persistent infection of macaque monkeys with RRV and PRV following experimental inoculation, but no specific disease was readily apparent from these infections even in the context of concurrent SIV infection.     

Pathogenesis of cerebral malaria

Plasmodium knowlesi infected rhesus monkeys were employed for investigating brain tissue damage in experimentally induced cerebral malaria. Light microscopic studies revealed parasitic infiltration of virtually all the regions of CNS. Electron microscopic observations confirmed the light microscopic findings. These studies further revealed the presence of macrophages in the blood vessels of infected monkeys. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria seems to be an outcome of a typical triad consisting of: (1) mechanical obstruction of the blood capillaries by parasitized RBCs; (2) biochemical events, involving free radicals, and (3) immunological dysfunction.