Abstract : Throat and fecal specimens collected in four sampling from chimpanzees resulted in recovery of 79 viruses from 53 of 187 chimpanzees. Fecal specimens collected from chimpanzees recently imported from Africa resulted in recovery of one or more viruses from 30 to 39 chimpanzees. The viruses recovered from both groups of chimpanzees have been characterized to virus group. Homologous antibody response to the enteroviruses recovered in this study was observed to be poor or nonexistent in the majority of chimpanzees. Six human laboratory personnel were found to possess low to moderate antibody levels against six of the chimpanzee enterovirus isolates. A higher incidence of viral infection of the colony maintained chimpanzee was observed in late summer based on results obtained in this study and in prior studies of this series. Oral administration of two chimpanzee enteroviruses to rhesus monkeys was followed by fecal excretion of the viruses for 8 to 10 days without evidence of clinical illness or immunologic response. (Author)
