Mycotic Infections of the Alimentary Tract of Nonhuman Primates: A Review

Abstract

Lesions of candidiasis, mucormycosis (phycomycosis), entomophthoramycosis, geotrichosis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and coccidioidomycosis have been reported in the alimentary tract of nonhuman primates. Candidiasis and mucormycosis were reported most often. Both Old and New World monkeys and great apes are susceptible; infection is rare in prosimians. Ulcers and necrosis of the mucosa of the alimentary tract are the principal gross lesions. A granulomatous inflammatory process occurs in which the fungi are visible histologically on hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections, but they are seen and characterized better when stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) or Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) techniques. Cultural or immunofluorescence studies, or both, are necessary for specific identification of the fungi. Immunosuppression is suggested as a predisposing factor in certain mycotic diseases.

Systemic zygomycosis

“…Systemic disease is not confined to man, and may arise in a variety of domestic animals (Ainsworth & Austwick, 1955), including sheep (Angus et al, 1971, cattle (Spratling et al, 1968;Nielan et al, 1982), pigs (Mahanta & Chaudhury, 1985), dogs (Ader, 1979) and cats (Ader, 1979;Loupal, 1982), and has been described in non-human primates (Migaki et al, 1982). One feline case was mistaken for rabies (Ravisse et al, 1978).…”

Nonhuman Primate Infections after Organ Transplantation

“…Case reports describe the presence of endemic mycoses-including blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis-in baboons and macaques (Baskin 1991;Breznock et al 1975;Graybill et al 1990;Migaki et al 1982;Pal et al 1984;Rosenberg et al 1984;Wilkinson et al 1999). Zygomycosis, mucormycosis, and other rare fungal infections may also present in immunosuppressed nonhuman primates.…”

A Case of Intestinal Mucormycosis in a Common Marmoset (<i>Callithrix jacchus</i>)

“…The gastrointestinal type is rare, but mortality is high [16]. In non-human primates, there are only seven reports of natural infectious mucormycosis in the literature; these reports include the rhino-orbital type in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) [10], the cutaneous type in a rhesus monkey [2], the gastrointestinal type in two rhesus monkeys [5,6] and two spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus) [11], and the generalized type in a mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) [9] and a golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster, Lydekker) [8]. However, there have been no reports of mucormycosis in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).…”

“…In humans or non-human primates, risk factors, such as malnutrition [12], diarrhea, and gastric ulcers [6] and intestinal ulcers [3,5,11,13] have been associated with the development of gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Thus, gastrointestinal mucormycosis in humans and non-human primates is mostly related to ulcers [14].…”