Aspiration pneumonia with adenovirus infection in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Primate Medicine
• Wildlife Disease Ecology

Background:

• Understanding infectious diseases and causes of mortality in wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) is crucial for population health management.
• Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in various animal species, including non-human primates.
• Viral infections can predispose animals to secondary bacterial infections or complicate existing conditions.

Observation:

• A wild Japanese macaque, captured 1 month prior to death, presented with pathological findings consistent with pneumonia.
• Foreign bodies were identified within the respiratory tract, indicating aspiration as a likely cause of the pneumonia.
• Adenovirus was detected in the deceased macaque.

Findings:

• The primary cause of death was determined to be pneumonia resulting from the aspiration of foreign bodies.
• Adenovirus infection was diagnosed but deemed a secondary condition, not the main driver of the fatal pneumonia.
• This case highlights the pathological consequences of foreign body aspiration in a wild primate.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering foreign body aspiration in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia in wild primates.
• Identifying secondary infections like adenovirus is critical for a complete understanding of disease processes in wildlife.
• Findings contribute to the knowledge base for diagnosing and managing respiratory diseases in Japanese macaque populations and potentially other non-human primates.