Antistreptococcal Antibodies, Rheumatoid Factors and Haptoglobin in Apes and Monkeys

Sera of 157 baboons (Papio hamadryas and P. anubis) 21 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) five orang utans (Pongo pygmaeus) three mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) and three gibbons (Hylobates lar lar) were examined for the content of antistreptolysin O, antidesoxyribonuclease B, for the presence of rheumatoid factors as well as for the level and type of haptoglobin.

The mean antistreptolysin O titer (AST) in baboons was 106 ASU ± 18 in dextransulfate absorbed sera (“real” AST) and 182 ASU ± 34 in non-absorbed sera. The mean decrease after absorption was 20% (i.e., 20% inhibitor + 80% antistreptolysin O), a value that is lower than previously found in rhesus monkeys (55%) or in man (40%). Raised values of anti-DNase B were found in two baboons only, and none of the sera of that species displayed presence of rheumatoid factors.

In chimpanzees, the mean AST was 68 ± 29 in absorbed and 87 ASU ± 57 in non-absorbed sera. Anti-DNase B was raised in three animals, and in two cases the increase was correlated with raised AST. Of 19 chimpanzee sera examined, 13 were found to contain antigammaglobulins (“rheumatoid factors”) the titers of which reached 1:64 or more.

All primate sera tested so far showed haptoglobin type 1-1 or Hp 1-1-like patterns. The haptoglobin level in chimpanzees and baboons was comparable to that established in man; in rhesus monkey, on the other hand, much lower values (40–62 mg/100ml) or ahaptoglobinemia were observed. The sera of all monkeys and apes tested so far showed a very low (undiluted, or up to 1:10 titer at most) agglutinating activity against T4-antigencarrying streptococci. This is in agreement with our observations made previously which indicated that human or animal sera of haptoglobin type 1-1 agglutinated streptococci to a much lower degree than type Hp 2-2 or type Hp 2-1 sera.