Campylobacter-induced fetal death in a rhesus monkey

A pregnant 4-year-old rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was presented with a history of acute vaginal bleeding. Physical examination revealed an open cervix. An ultrasound scan demonstrated a viable early third-trimester fetus, approximately 16 weeks of gestational age. Hematology results showed that the monkey was anemic, with a normal leukogram and Döhle bodies. A subsequent cervical culture was positive for Campylobacter fetus. The fetus died 3 days later, and a necropsy of the fetus and placenta was performed. Microscopic examination of the placenta revealed villitis, perivillitis, and deciduitis with S-shaped and gull wing-shaped bacteria. C. fetus was considered the cause of the placental lesions and fetal death; however, the pathogenesis of the infection (hematogenous vs. ascending from the maternal genital tract) was not clear. This is the first report of a Campylobacter-induced fetal death in the rhesus monkey. Because macaques can be asymptomatic carriers and Campylobacter-induced diarrhea is common, this finding has implications for breeding success in nonhuman primate breeding colonies.