Failure to infect rhesus monkeys with hepatitis C virus strains of genotypes 1a, 2a or 3a

The chimpanzee is the only recognized animal model for the study of hepatit is C virus (HCV). However, recently it was reported that rhesus monkeys wer e susceptible to HCV and developed hepatitis during infection. In the prese nt study, we inoculated two rhesus monkeys each with HCV strain H77 (genoty pe 1a), strain HC-J6 (genotype 2a) or strain S52 (genotype 3a). Weekly seru m samples were tested for liver enzyme values, HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. We did not find evidence of HCV infection in any of the monkeys during 24 w eeks of follow-up. Our study demonstrates that rhesus monkeys are not readi ly infected with HCV and apparently do not represent a useful animal model for the study of HCV.