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Villus atrophy and malabsorption in a rhesus monkey
Laboratory Animal Science
|December 1, 1984
Summary
A rhesus monkey presented with gastrointestinal issues and villus atrophy, similar to human celiac disease. This finding highlights potential parallels in small intestine conditions between primates.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Primate Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Investigating gastrointestinal diseases in non-human primates is crucial for comparative pathology.
- Understanding conditions affecting the small intestine aids in both veterinary and human medical research.
Observation:
- A juvenile rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) displayed clinical signs including weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, alopecia, eosinophilia, and vomiting.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed thickened gastric and intestinal walls, intestinal distension, and rapid transit.
- Biopsies confirmed villus atrophy in the proximal small intestine.
Findings:
- The rhesus monkey exhibited impaired D-xylose absorption, indicating malabsorption.
- Pathologic examination revealed significant villus atrophy in the proximal small intestine.
- The observed intestinal pathology closely resembled human celiac disease in distribution and morphology.
Implications:
- This case suggests that rhesus monkeys can develop small intestinal conditions analogous to human celiac disease.
- Further research into primate models may offer insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of human celiac disease.
- Highlights the importance of considering similar pathologies across species in comparative medicine.