Bacteriological findings in a nonhuman primate colony

A 5-year review (March 1974-March 1979) of bacteriological findings in Old and New World Primates is discussed. Emphasis is on clinical findings in "sick" animals; the primary clinical problems being pneumonia, tuberculosis, intestinal disorders, and trauma infection. The isolation of infrequently encountered pathogenic organisms is discussed. Nonhuman primtes included in this study are baboons (Papio cynocephalus), chimpanzees (Pan sp.), capuchins (Cebus sp.), rhesus (Macaca mulatta), marmoset (Saguinus sp.), squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), and grivet (Ceropithecus aethiops). We believe, from the clinical isolations presented, that this report may serve as a guideline in determining the causative bacterial species of infection and illness in nonhuman primates and served as a basis for standardizing primate colonies.