Related Experiment Videos
Oral lesions in rhesus monkeys associated with infection by simian AIDS retrovirus, serotype-I (SRV-1)
M Schiødt1, A Lackner, G Armitage
1Department of Stomatology, University of California, San Francisco.
Abstract:
Simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS) is a retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency disease that affects certain nonhuman primates and has many parallels to human AIDS. We examined 72 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) exposed to SAIDS retrovirus serotype-1 (SRV-1) and 81 healthy control monkeys at the California Primate Research Center to determine the prevalence of oral lesions. At the time of examination, 69 of the 72 monkeys exposed to SRV-1 had serologic and/or virologic evidence of SRV-1 infection. None of the 81 control monkeys had any evidence of infection with SRV-1. Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), oral yeast infections, and noma occurred in 10% (p less than 0.01), 4%, and 1%, respectively, of the study group of 72 animals but were found in none of the control animals. Thus, ANUG occurs rather frequently in rhesus monkeys with evidence of SRV-1 infection. The reproducible immunodeficiency that follows inoculation of SRV-1 in rhesus monkeys promises to be a useful model for studying the pathogenesis of ANUG associated with immunodeficiency.
Insights
Simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS) causes oral lesions like acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) in rhesus monkeys. This study highlights SAIDS as a model for understanding ANUG in immunodeficient states.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Immunology
- Primate Research
Background:
- Simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS) shares similarities with human AIDS.
- SAIDS is a retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency affecting nonhuman primates.
- Oral lesions are common in immunodeficient states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of oral lesions in rhesus monkeys infected with SAIDS retrovirus serotype-1 (SRV-1).
- To investigate the association between SRV-1 infection and specific oral pathologies.
- To establish SRV-1-infected rhesus monkeys as a model for studying immunodeficiency-associated oral diseases.
Main Methods:
- Examined 72 rhesus monkeys exposed to SRV-1 and 81 healthy controls.
- Assessed monkeys for serologic and/or virologic evidence of SRV-1 infection.
- Documented the presence and types of oral lesions in all subjects.
Main Results:
- 69 of 72 SRV-1 exposed monkeys showed evidence of infection.
- None of the control monkeys were infected with SRV-1.
- Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) occurred in 10% of infected monkeys (p<0.01), versus 0% in controls. Oral yeast infections (4%) and noma (1%) were also observed exclusively in the infected group.
Conclusions:
- SRV-1 infection in rhesus monkeys leads to a high prevalence of oral lesions, particularly ANUG.
- SRV-1-infected rhesus monkeys serve as a valuable model for studying the pathogenesis of ANUG in immunodeficiency.
- Further research can explore the mechanisms linking SAIDS and oral disease development.