Experimental leprosy in rhesus monkeys: transmission, susceptibility clinical and immunological findings

摘要

A total of 46 Rhesus monkeys (RM) was inoculated with Mycobacterium leprae (ML) and followed clinically and immunologically for extended periods. Twenty-one (45.7/100) of the RM developed leprosy spanning the known leprosy Spectrum, with six of ew having disease in the borderline lepromatous to lepromatous area of the spectrum. RM with paucibacillary forms of leprosy produced Predominantly IgG anti-phenolic glycolipid (PGL-I) antibodies and positive lepromin Skin test and/or in vitro blastogenesis responses; IgM anti-PGL-I predominated in animals with BB-LL leprosy and correlated with negative immune responses to lepromin.