Transmission of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans to young Macaca fascicularis monkeys from human nursery attendants.

Streptococcus mutans was detected in the mouths of 2 out of 7 infant monkeys that had been delivered by caesarian section and nursery-reared without contact with their mothers or other monkeys. Their human nursery attendants all harboured Strep. mutans biotype c (c serotype) as found in the monkeys. Bacteriocin studies also indicated similarity between the animal and human isolates. These findings suggest that the infant monkeys acquired Strep. mutans from the nursery personnel. Evidence for the reverse transmission of enterococci, from monkeys to man was also obtained.