Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in an adult macaque

To evaluate through differential diagnosis whether hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was present on an adult macaque skeleton.

Skeletal remains of a well-preserved adult macaque (Macaca) of unknown species curated by the archaeology department at University College London.

Macroscopic and radiographic evaluation of pathological lesions.

Widespread bilateral and symmetrical periosteal new bone growth primarily affecting the limbs was observed.

A careful differential diagnosis of the lesions and comparison with previously published cases of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy among humans and non-humans suggests this animal displays a case of Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.

Only been three reported cases of HOA in non-human primates have been reported, and all were apes. This study serves as the first reported case of HOA among non-hominoid simians, providing a detailed description of the skeletal lesions to aid future with paleopathological analyses.

Small sample sizes for comparison and lack of context for this specimen limits discussion of the scope of this disease among non-human primates.

Re-evaluate skeletal collections which have not been subject to recent osteological and pathological analysis.