Demonstration of Rickettsia rickettsii in the rhesus monkey by immune fluorescence microscopy.

Indirect immune fluorescence was used to detect rickettsiae in the tissues of a primate inoculated subcutaneously with Rickettsia rickettsii. Rickettsiae were identified by indirect immuno fluorescence predominantly in skin, skeletal muscle, scrotum, testicles, nares, heart, kidney, liver, brain, spleen, pancreas, and larynx. Cell culture assay confirmed the presence of infectious organisms in those specimens.