COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTAL RICKETTSIA TSUTSUGAMUSHI INFECTIONS IN SILVERED LEAF (PRESBYTIS CRISTATUS) AND CYNOMOLGUS (MACACA FASCICULARIS) MONKEYS

Abstract
Silvered leaf and cynomolgus monkeys were infected with the Gilliam, Karp and Kato strains of R. tsutsugamushi. The 2 spp. developed similar clinical syndromes but the antibody responses were greater in cynomolgus monkeys. In both species of monkeys the Gilliam strain induced more severe clinical manifestations. At 10 mo. post-infection, silvered leaf monkeys were immune to homologous intradermal (i.d.) challenge. Cynomolgus monkeys at 15 mo. post-infection were relatively resistant to homologous i.v. challenge but not to a homologous or heterologous i.d. challenge.