Possible influence of measles virus infection of cynomolgus monkeys on the outcome of the neurovirulence test for oral poliovirus vaccine.
Macaque monkeys are susceptible to measles infection which triggers temporary immuno-depression similar to the well known phenomenon in humans. It is known that feral monkeys become infected with measles virus when they are exposed to humans. Since Macaca mulatta and M. fascicularis are species used to assay the neurovirulence of oral poliovirus vaccine, the immunodepression caused by measles infection of the test monkeys could significantly alter the results of the neurovirulence test. The serum titers of measles-neutralizing antibodies were studied in over 1500 monkeys used for neurovirulence tests. A high proportion of the feral monkeys had measles antibodies (51-100%); in contrast, none of 493 M. fascicularis monkeys which had been bred in a primate colony under strict isolation measures was found positive for measles antibodies. An increase in the prevalence of measles in the population of Ontario and Quebec provinces was accompanied with an increase in the proportion of measles-positive monkey and their serum antibody titers were found higher. It was observed that monkeys used in tests that had been performed during high measles prevalence presented with a poliomyelitis of more pronounced severity clinically and histologically. The analysis of 29 tests conducted on type 1 vaccines over several years showed a positive correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.5141, P less than 0.0022) between severity of poliomyelitis and the presence of measles serum antibodies in test monkeys (some animals seroconverted during the test). A similar observation, when type 3 Sabin vaccines were tested in M. fascicularis, was recently reported from another laboratory in Ontario.
Contreras
G
G
Bureau of Biologics, Health and Welfare, Canada.
Furesz
J
J
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001681:Biological Assay; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000592:standards; D012015:Reference Standards; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral