Fatal airsacculitis and pneumonia, with abortion, in an orangutan

A 14-year-old, 76-kg female orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) aborted a premature fetus and within hours experienced severe respiratory distress and died. Necropsy revealed evidence of chronic airsacculitis, acute bronchopneumonia, and terminal sepsis. Escherichia coli was isolated from cultures of heart blood, tracheal fluid, air-sac tissue and fluid, lung, and bile. Retrospectively, it was established that the animal had had a periodic nasal discharge for many months. The aborted infant had no evidence of infection.