Nonhuman Primate Models: II. Infection of Saimiri and Aotus Monkeys with Plasmodium vivax

Infections with human malaria parasites in New World monkeys offer opportunities to determine host-parasite interactions and relationships, to produce malarial antigens for diagnostic and molecular characterization, to conduct drug and vaccine efficacy trials, and to produce gametocytes for mosquito infectivity studies (1 -7 ). Isolates of Plasmodium vivax from different geographic areas vary in their infectivity to monkeys and mosquitoes. Because they are human pathogens, standard precautions must be followed to avoid accidental infection. Additionally, primates require special housing and care as set forth in Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Protocols are approved by institutional Animal Care and Use Committees in accordance with U.S. Public Health Service Policy (1986).