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Virus-associated deficiencies in the mitogen reactivity in celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra)
Abstract:
Celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra) with a history of diabetes mellitus, recurrent bacterial and protozoal infections, diarrhea, anemia, weight loss, anorexia, and a high mortality were studied to determine their immune status. Two groups of monkeys, healthy and unhealthy, were formed on the basis of a clinical assessment. The proliferative response and the pokeweed-mitogen-induced polyclonal IgG response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of unhealthy monkeys were significantly less than the responses of healthy monkeys. The percentage of HLA-DR+ cells varied greatly in unhealthy monkeys. The OKT4/OKT8 ratios of unhealthy monkeys were generally greater than the ratios of healthy monkeys. Unhealthy monkeys usually had smaller percentages of OKT8+ cells than did healthy monkeys. The two groups of monkeys were examined for the presence of a syncytial forming retrovirus by a coculture assay involving Raji cells, a human B lymphoblastoid cell line. A type D retrovirus was detected in the unhealthy group but not in the healthy group. Retroperitoneal fibromatosis was detected in several monkeys in the unhealthy group.
Insights
Sick Celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra) showed impaired immune responses and a type D retrovirus. This suggests a link between retroviral infection and immune dysfunction in these primates.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Primate Virology
- Immunodeficiency Studies
Background:
- Celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra) exhibit high mortality with conditions like diabetes mellitus and recurrent infections.
- Assessing the immune status is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis in these primates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the immune status of unhealthy Celebes black macaques.
- To investigate potential links between observed health issues and specific pathogens or immune alterations.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment to categorize monkeys into healthy and unhealthy groups.
- Evaluation of peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and immunoglobulin G responses.
- Flow cytometry analysis of T-cell subsets (OKT4, OKT8) and HLA-DR expression.
- Coculture assay with Raji cells to detect syncytial-forming retroviruses.
Main Results:
- Unhealthy monkeys displayed significantly reduced proliferative and IgG responses compared to healthy controls.
- T-cell subset analysis revealed higher OKT4/OKT8 ratios and lower percentages of OKT8+ cells in unhealthy macaques.
- A type D retrovirus was detected exclusively in the unhealthy group.
- Retroperitoneal fibromatosis was identified in several unhealthy monkeys.
Conclusions:
- Impaired cellular and humoral immune responses are characteristic of unhealthy Celebes black macaques.
- The presence of a type D retrovirus in unhealthy macaques suggests a potential role in their immunodeficiency and associated pathologies.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms of retroviral pathogenesis and its impact on primate health.