Vaccina virus (VV) infection induces specific antibodies and cytotoxic T cells in various animal species. Therefore, helper T cells also should be induced that stimulate the humoral and cellular immune responses. We determined such helper T-cell activity in 2 species after VV infection. Rabbits and rhesus macaques were infected with the Copenhagen strain of VV or with recombinant VV expressing retroviral proteins. Animals of both species developed antibodies and specific proliferative T-cell response. This reactivity could be enhanced by booster infection with VV. The proliferating macaque cells were CD4+ and major histocompatability complex class II-restricted. These data confirm the broad immunogenicity of VV. Expression of additional polypeptides expressed from a recombinant VV does not lead to altered immune response to VV antigens. However, strength of the helper T-cell response, as well as clinical reactions, differed between macaques and rabbits. Infection with recombinant VV as delivery vectors offers the opportunity for combined vaccination against recombinant proteins and does not diminish cellular and humoral immune responses to VV itself.

Mating experiments were performed to elucidate the distribution of perfect state of Microsporum gypseum complex originating from animals and soils in Korea. A total of 30 strains of M. gypseum complex, composed of 16 from animals and 14 from soils, mated with the tester strains of Nannizzia incurvata, N. gypsea and N. fulva. Among 30 strains of M. gypseum complex examined, 16 strains (53.3%) were N. incurvata, 13 strains (43.3%) N. gypsea and 1 strain (3.3%) N. fulva. Among 13 strains of dog isolates, 8 strains (61.5%) were N. incurvata and 5 strains (38.5%) N. gypsea. And each strain isolated from Korean native goat, monkey and albino rat was N. gypsea. Among 14 strains of soil isolates, 8 strains (57.2%) were N. incurvata, 5 strains (35.7%) N. gypsea and 1 strain (7.2%) N. fulva. And - mating type was more frequently obseved than + mating type in the strains of N. incurvata and N. gypsea. By this study, N. fulva was isolated the first time in Korea.

Experimental Trichinella zimbabwensis infections were established in three baboons (Papio sp.) and four vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and the clinical-pathological manifestations assessed. The infected animals showed clinical signs ranging from fever, diarrhoea, periorbital oedema and muscular pain in varying degrees. One baboon became blind due to the infection. Levels of creatinine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase increased to reach a peak on Day 42 post-infection (pi) for both baboons and monkeys. Blood parameters such as packed cell volume, levels of red blood cells and white blood cells did not change significantly from the normal ranges except for the levels of eosinophils which peaked above the normal ranges at Day 28 and 56 pi in baboons and at Day 56 pi in monkeys. Two baboons and two monkeys died during the course of the experiment. They were emaciated and showed lesions such as ascites, hydropericardium, congested liver and enlarged gall bladder. Histopathological findings of various muscles included a basophilic transformation of muscle cells, the disappearance of sarcomere myofibrils and basophilic sarcoplasm with the presence of Trichinella larvae in the sarcoplasm. These changes were mainly in the massetter and were of various intensities in the tail, gastrocnemius and biceps muscles. Five consecutive treatments with an oxfendazole-levamisole combination on surviving animals failed to clear the infection whereas ivermectin cleared the infection after one treatment in two monkeys and after two treatments in a baboon.