Aneurysms in a large colony of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

This communication reports the findings of a retrospective study of extracranial aneurysms found at necropsy in a large colony of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Eleven (1.5%) of 730 cases had dissecting, saccular, or fusiform aneurysms of the carotid arteries or aorta. Saccular and fusiform aneurysms were found only in animals that had been fed atherogenic diets, whereas dissecting aneurysms occurred in both normo- and hypercholesterolemic monkeys. Neither the type or location of aneurysms, however, could be predicted by the length of time an animal consumed an atherogenic diet, nor by the total mean serum cholesterol concentration. The anatomical characteristics, location, and incidence of aneurysms found in squirrel monkeys resembled closely those observed in human autopsy cases.