LEISHMANIA-AETHIOPICA - EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS IN NONHUMAN-PRIMATES

Six Cercopithecus aethiops monkeys, 4 Theropithecus gelada baboons and 2 Papio anubis baboons were infected using Leishmania aethiopica isol ates originating either from localized (LCL) or diffuse (DCL) cutaneou s leishmaniasis patients. The history of lesions in 4 C. aethiops monk eys infected by LCL strains mimicked the process in human LCL patients . Infection of 2 C. aethiops monkeys using a DCL strain resulted in lo calized, non-ulcerative, self-healing nodular lesions. Such lesions we re also observed in 2 T. gelada baboons infected by LCL strains. Activ e lesions and healing in C. aethiops and T. gelada, after infection by LCL stains, were accompanied by positive DTH and immunity to challeng e by LCL or DCL strains.