A gastric trichobezoar in a chimpanzee

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Primate Health
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Routine surgical procedures in non-human primates can reveal unexpected findings.
• Gastrointestinal anomalies in chimpanzees require thorough investigation.

Observation:

• A firm, mobile, oblong mass was identified incidentally within the stomach of a chimpanzee during surgery.
• The mass was successfully removed for further analysis.

Findings:

• The stomach mass was definitively diagnosed as a trichobezoar.
• Trichobezoars are rare foreign bodies composed of ingested hair.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of intraoperative examination for incidental gastrointestinal findings in primates.
• Understanding trichobezoar formation in chimpanzees can inform captive animal husbandry and dietary management.
• Further research into the etiology and prevention of bezoars in non-human primates is warranted.