title: Multidrug chemotherapy of tuberculosis in rhesus monkeys.
abstract: Occurrence of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a colony of rhesus monkeys allowed evaluation of a modern multidrug therapeutic regimen. Fifteen tuberculin positive rhesus monkeys with disseminated tuberculosis were evaluated for extent of disease by radiographic techniques, physical examination and laparotomy prior to treatment. Monkeys were divided into treatment groups of 3, 6 and 12 months duration and were treated once daily with isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol. All animals survived their treatment course, had marked clinical improvement and rapid resolution of radiographically demonstrable lesions. Lesion regression evaluated by necropsy and histopathology correlated positively with length of treatment interval. Mycobacterium bovis was not isolated from any animal following treatment. Multidrug chemotherapy of tuberculosis was considered successful and practical in rhesus monkeys at the 12 month treatment interval. Chemotherapy may provide a reasonable alternative to destruction of valuable animals infected with tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, Delta Regional Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Baskin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008251:Macaca; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D011859:Radiography; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin