Studies with induced malarias in Aotus monkeys.

Aotus monkeys have been shown to be susceptible to the three most important species of human malaria as well as to simian, ape, and rodent malaria. The parasites natural to man were maintained by serial passages using trophozoite infected blood. It was then possible to transfer the infections to, and among, other New World monkeys which previously were refractory. The parasites retained their viability in the monkey, were infective to mosquitos, and were transmitted between monkeys and back to man. Exoerythrocytic stages, similar to those demonstrated in man, occurred in the Aotus liver. Drugs exerted similar action against the parasites in the monkey as against parasites in man. The human malaria-Aotus model has made possible other extensive studies in various disciplines important to the understanding of the parasites in man. These included parasite biology, host-parasite-vector relationships, immunology, pathology, and physiology.