THE PHILIPPINE CYNOMOLGUS MONKEY (MACACA-FASCICULARIS) PROVIDES A NEWNONHUMAN PRIMATE MODEL OF TUBERCULOSIS THAT RESEMBLES HUMAN-DISEASE

A nonhuman primate model of tuberculosis that closely resembles human disease is urgently needed. We have evaluated the Philippine cynomolgu s monkey, Macaca fasicularis, as a model of TB. Cynomolgus monkeys cha llenged intratracheally with extremely high doses of Mycobocterium tub erculosis (10(5) or 10(4) CFU) developed an acute, rapidly progressive , highly fatal multilobar pneumonia. However, monkeys challenged with moderate or low doses of M. tuberculosis (less than or equal to 10(3) CFU) developed a chronic, slowly progressive, localized form of pulmon ary TB, akin to the disease in humans, that was frequently accompanied by such clinical syndromes as ocular tuberculosis, meningitis and tub erculous spondylitis. A significant proportion of monkeys challenged w ith 10(2) or 10(1) CFU contained the infection in a subclinical state. The Philippine cynomolgus monkey model is an excellent model of chron ic TB and provides an opportunity to study subclinical and potentially latent disease in an animal model.