Escherichia coli 0111a, 111c: B4; a new serotype isolated from monkeys.

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of biochemical and serological studies made with a group of Escherichia coli cultures isolated from monkeys at the Okatie Farms near Bluffton, South Carolina. These E. coli strains were recovered on SS agar from rectal swab specimens collected during an epizootic of enteric disease in a colony of about 4,000 Macaca mulatta and Macaca irus. Details of the epizootic and a full report of the results of bacteriological and parasitological examinations will be published.' The epizootic was serious with a high mortality rate, and it seemed probable that most of the illness was caused by the several Shigella and Salmonella serotypes that were isolated. During this outbreak, 99 cultures of E. coli were recovered which were investigated further because they were agglutinated by antiserum prepared with E. coli serotype 0111:B4. Each of the 99 cultures was from a separate monkey, as follows: Twenty-three cultures from monkeys hospitalized for respiratory infection; no diarrhea. Seventy-five cultures from monkeys with diarrhea, hospitalized. Salmonella or Shigella serotypes also were recovered from 11 of these animals. One culture from a monkey in the "Well Area". Sixty-four of the strains of the serotype related to E. coli 0111 were isolated from monkeys hospitalized for diarrhea, and salmonellae or shigellae were not recovered from these animals. However, it is not the purpose in this paper to attempt assessment of the possible pathogenic propensities of the new serotype. Fifty-eight of the above mentioned cultures were sent to these