Experimental reovirus infection in monkeys I. Clinical and virological studies

Abstract

Seventeen bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) were inoculated with reovirus type 3 by oral and nasal, intragastric or intravenous routes. All animals were infected as evidenced by the recovery of virus from rectal and throat swabs up to the 13th or 14th day after inoculation. Urine samples from several monkeys were positive between the 1st and 12th days. Most animals developed a slight rise of temperature during the first two weeks after inoculation. Thirteen developed diarrhea, which usually started between the 3rd and 8th day and lasted 6 to 15 days. A moderate leucopenia also was observed in 6 of 7 animals on whom serial blood counts were done. Serum levels of glutamic-oxaloacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminases and amylase did not rise significantly during the three weeks of observation, suggesting the absence of hepatitis, myocarditis and pancreatitis. Homotypic hemagglutinatjon inhibiting antibody response was observed in all animals and there was no heterotypic response of antibodies to type 1 or 2.