Pathogenesis (Experimental Hosts)

Abstract

Monkeys are generally susceptible to dengue viruses. A number of species belonging to Macacus, Cynomolgus, Cercopithecus, Cercocebus, Papio, etc., can be infected by bites of virus-harboring mosquitoes or by injection of human dengue virus (in the form of patient’s blood or serum) by various routes. Hyperpyrexia and leukopenia, usually of slight degrees, are noted. Viremia occurs about a week after the inoculation of virus, and this may be significant for the maintenance of dengue in nature, forming a possible cycle of monkey-mosquito-monkey transmission. Earlier work on these aspects is covered in articles by Blanc et al. (1929), Blanc and Caminopetros (1930), Simmons et al. (1931) and Findlay (1932). The results were confirmed and extended by later investigations (Taniguchi et al., 1943, 1951; Otawara et al., 1943; Ogata and Hashimoto, 1944b; Sabin and Theiler, 1944; Misao et al., 1946a, b; Reul and Erraerts, 1949). In some monkeys infected with human dengue virus mild myocarditis or nephritis were noted (Taniguchi et al., 1943; 1951; Misao et al., 1946b).