Experimental immune mediated arthritis in rhesus monkeys

The induction of experimental arthritis in rhesus monkeys was studied by intradermal immunization of bovine type II collagen and antigens derived fromMycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pyogenes, andEubacterium aerofaciens. The tested bacterial antigens proved to be not arthritogenic. Bovine type II collagen induced clinical arthritis in 50% of the rhesus monkeys. Type II collagen induced arthritis in rhesus monkeys proved to be a potential model to study clinical, serological, histological, genetic, and immunologic features associated with human RA.