Human Scarlatinal Streptococci in Monkeys

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hemolytic streptococci were recovered from 4 rhesus monkeys. 3 had spontaneous infections (2, facial erysipelas; 1, an axillary abscess) and the 4th developed a purulent peritonitis following the intraperitoneal injection of Dial. In all instances a culture of the lesion yielded a pure growth of hemolytic streptococci. By precipitin tests, all strains fell into Lancefield''s group A, and their biochemical and cultural characteristics were those of human pathogenic organisms. All lysed a human plasma-clot rapidly and produced a human erythrogenic toxin which was neutralizable with scarlatinal antitoxin. With the available tests these 4 strains were indistinguishable from those found in scarlet fever and other severe human streptococcal diseases.