Morphologic and immunopathologic studies on rhesus monkeys with Mycobacterium Mycobacterium avium infection

In previous reports cases of avian tuberculosis in monkeys have been described. In this article changes in serum, lymphocyte response, morphologic lesions in lymph nodes and viscera are reported. Morphologic studies of the intestine included light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Lymph node biopsies taken over a 5 mth period revealed initially a predominant plasma cell infiltration to one with relative lymphoid depletion at the time of death. Serum β and γ globulin levels complimented morphologic changes in the respect that 3.5 g of γ globulin were observed in serum from animals with lymph nodes diffusely infiltrated with plasma cells. Lymphocytes from animals with elevated β and γ globulin values had depressed lymphocyte stimulation responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and low rosetting values with sheep red blood cells. Morphologic changes of the intestinal tract included villous atrophy, infiltration of the lamina propria with macrophages heavily laden with acid fast organisms, and microgranulomas of the submucosa and serosal surface as observed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Results of this study suggest that avian tuberculosis is associated with an immunoproliferative disorder.