Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis in Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

Abstract. Alveolar echinococcosis was diagnosed in 12 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) at postmortem examination within a period of 6 years. Besides consistent involvement of the liver, parasitic lesions were also present in mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, lung, and kidney. In the liver, various patterns of host's responses to parasitic tissue could be distinguished. Infiltration of macrophages, often multinucleated, around usually intact metacestodes was the main feature of one pattern. A second pattern was characterized by the presence of abundant, normally degenerate granulocytes in addition to macrophages surrounding collapsed laminated structures. Finally and as a third pattern, some cysts were surrounded by marked collagen deposition, which was usually not a significant feature of the other foci. Parasitic cysts with protoscolices were observed in foci with the first and third pattern but not in the second one. The simultaneous occurrence of all three patterns was observed in most animals. Type AA amyloid was identified either in the space of Dissé, macrophages or blood vessel walls in nine animals using immunohistochemistry. Identity of parasitic structures such as metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis was confirmed immunohistochemically. All animals that could be tested serologically (7/12) had detectable antibodies against the E. multilocularis-specific Em2 antigen. Liver lesions of six animals were additionally analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, yielding the amplification of a specific E. multilocularis DNA fragment in each case.

Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) with alveolar echinococcosis after treatment with albendazole for 10 years: serodiagnosis and determination of albendazole metabolites

“…Some cases of monkey Echinococcus infection in facilities such as zoos have been reported (Kondo et al 1996;Bacciarini et al 2004;Rehmann et al 2005;Tappe et al 2007); however, the cause of most cases is not clear. We propose the following possible causes: (1) the definitive host animal (e.g., fox) invaded a zoo and (2) feed brought in was polluted with eggs of Echinococcus.…”

Echinococcus granulosus: Epidemiology and state-of-the-art of diagnostics in animals

“…), but these have been most frequently concerned with necropsy findings of hepatic lesions of E. multilocularis (alveolar echinococcosis) in primates, including great apes, macaques and lemurs (e.g. Rehmann et al, 2003;Bacciarini et al, 2004;Umhang et al, 2013). Diagnosis was usually based on classical post-mortem findings of cyst morphology and histology, but also specific serology and increasingly DNA analyses.…”

Detection of Echinococcus Multilocularis Infection in a Colony of Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca Fascicularis) using Serology and Ultrasonography

“…4,5 In addition, polymerase chain From the Zentrum für Fisch und Wildtiermedizin (Rehmann, Janovsky, Bacciarini), the Institut für Tierpathologie (Rehmann, Gröne, Janovsky, Bacciarini), the Institut für Parasitologie, Universität Bern, Berne, Switzerland (Gottstein, Sager), and the Zoologischer Garten Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Völlm). 1 Corresponding Author: Luca N. Bacciarini, Ufficio Veterinario Cantonale, Via Dogana 16, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland. reaction (PCR) analysis has been shown to be very useful.…”

“…1 It was, therefore, assumed that serology may be a useful test to identify monkeys at risk of developing alveolar echinococcosis. However, the number of positive animals in the colony was much lower than expected, and because euthanasia is not an option, the disease status of seropositive monkeys Nos.…”

“…3,6,8,10 The ␤2-toxigenic C. perfringens type A has also been found in fecal samples from clinically healthy reindeer 2 and from wild-caught Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). 1 This note reports the characterization of ␤2-toxigenic C. perfringens type A strains isolated from 2 captive Asiatic black bears (Selenarctos thibetanus) that died suddenly of enterotoxemia.…”