title: Limited susceptibility of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) to leprosy after experimental administration of Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: Cynomolgus monkeys are a useful model for human tuberculosis, but susceptibility to M. leprae is unknown. A cynomolgus model of leprosy could increase understanding of pathogenesis-importantly, neuritis and nerve-damaging reactions. We administered viable Mycobacterium leprae to 24 cynomolgus monkeys by three routes, with a median follow-up period of 6 years (range = 1-19 years) involving biopsies, nasal smears, antiphenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1) antibody serology, and lepromin skin testing. Most developed evanescent papules at intradermal M. leprae inoculation sites that, on biopsy, showed a robust cellular immune response akin to a lepromin skin test reaction; many produced PGL-1 antibodies. At necropsy, four monkeys, without cutaneous or gross neurological signs of leprosy but with elevated PGL-1 antibodies, including three with nasal smears (+) for acid fast bacilli (AFB), showed histological features, including AFB, suggestive of leprosy at several sites. Overall, however, cynomolgus monkeys seem minimally susceptible to leprosy after experimental M. leprae administration.
authors.affiliation: Leonard Wood Memorial, Cebu Leprosy and Tuberculosis Research Foundation, Cebu, Philippines.
authors.forename: Gerald P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Eduardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Dela Cruz
authors.forename: Rodolfo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Esterlina V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Tranquilino T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Laarni G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Villahermosa
authors.forename: Roland V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Cellona
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Balagon
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Saunderson
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007916:Lepromin; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae; D007916:Lepromin