Meningoencephalitis secondary to otitis in a gorilla

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Primate Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Gorillas, as endangered great apes, are vital for biodiversity.
• Understanding diseases in captive or wild gorillas is crucial for conservation efforts.
• Foreign body ingestion and subsequent infections can pose risks to wildlife.

Observation:

• An adult female gorilla presented with a 13-day illness prior to death.
• Necropsy revealed a 2-cm foreign object, identified as a straw, in the external auditory meatus.
• The gorilla exhibited severe suppurative otitis media and interna, and suppurative meningoencephalitis.

Findings:

• Microscopic examination confirmed extensive inflammation and infection in the middle and inner ear.
• Suppurative meningoencephalitis indicated a severe, widespread brain infection.
• Proteus mirabilis, a Gram-negative bacterium, was isolated from the internal acoustic pore, suggesting a causative agent.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential dangers of foreign object aspiration or ingestion in gorillas.
• Prompt diagnosis and intervention for otitis and potential central nervous system involvement are critical in affected animals.
• The findings underscore the importance of environmental hazard assessment in gorilla habitats and management practices.