Abstract
Summary
In an attempt to transmit rubella to rhesus monkeys, 6 yearling male animals from an isolated, and therefore presumably susceptible population, were inoculated by several routes with throat washings and acute phase sera from selected rubella patients. During 21 days of observation following inoculation, none of the animals showed any physical signs of rubella. Serial daily total and differential leukocyte counts showed leukopenia and lymphocytosis of slight degree. In none of the animals tested was neutralizing antibody to rubella virus demonstrable prior to inoculation, but neutralization tests performed on pre-inoculation and post-inoculation sera showed a significant rise in titer in 4 of the 6 animals inoculated. It is concluded, therefore, that rhesus monkeys are probably susceptible to infection with rubella virus, but that the infection is usually of the inapparent type.
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