Protective Immunization of monkeys with BCG or BCG plus heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae: clinical results

摘要

Rhesus and sooty monkey monkeys (RM and SMM) were vaccinated and boosted with BCG or BCG + low dose (LD) or high dose (HD) heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae (HKML). One group was not vaccinated. Except for a group of controls, all monkeys were challenged wit live M. leprae. All animals were studied longitudinally to determine antileprosy protective efficacy, BCG reduced the numbers of RM with histopathologically-diagnosed leprosy by 70/100 and slowed and ameliorated the appearance of symptoms.