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Published on: December 15, 2011
Oral papillomas and papilliform lesions in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Mary M Patterson1, Arlin B Rogers, Keith G Mansfield
1Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Abstract:
Oral papillomas in two male rhesus macaques that were diagnosed morphologically as filiform and squamous types are described. Two additional macaques had oral papilliform lesions consistent histologically with papillary hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry, along with electron microscopy and PCR assays, failed to demonstrate evidence of papillomavirus in any of the tumors; however, such results are often lacking when suspect oral lesions in humans and other species are assessed. Other potential causes of the papillary masses include chronic irritation and perhaps a genetic susceptibility. Benign tumors of the oral epithelium in macaques have not been reported previously; they appear to be rare and of variable clinical significance.
Insights
Oral papillomas were observed in rhesus macaques, but papillomavirus was not detected. Chronic irritation or genetic factors may cause these rare benign oral tumors.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Primate Oncology
Background:
- Oral papillomas are benign epithelial tumors.
- Their occurrence in rhesus macaques is not previously documented.
Observation:
- Two male rhesus macaques presented with filiform and squamous oral papillomas.
- Two additional macaques exhibited oral papilliform lesions resembling papillary hyperplasia.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed papillary hyperplasia in some lesions.
- Immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and PCR assays did not detect papillomavirus.
- Absence of viral detection is common in suspected oral lesions across species.
Implications:
- Potential causes include chronic irritation or genetic predisposition.
- These findings highlight the rarity and variable clinical significance of benign oral tumors in macaques.
