Vol. 44, No. 4, 2000
ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN BONNET MONKEYS (A Case Report)
Prakash, S., Sankar, V., Muthusamy, R., Kamakshi, K.
Department of Anatomy
Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
University of Madras
Taramani Campus
Chennai 600 113, India
Summary
In this paper, we report the possibility of ulcerative colitis in captive bonnet monkeys. Ulcerative colitis - an inflammatory bowel disease - has been reported previously in various animals. In harmony with these reports we found the diarrhoea in captive bonnet monkeys was seldom due to infectious agents or responded to conventional anti-diarrhoea treatment. Instead, they respond well to anti-inflammatory therapy and stress-alleviation. Histological analysis of the colon in deceased animals revealed inflammatory changes. In 30% of the instances where anti-motility agents were used, fatal toxic megacolon - a complication typical to ulcerative colitis - was encountered. Therefore, based on the animal health-record analysis, histological, clinical, and microbiological assessments, we hypothetize that diarrhoea in captive bonnet monkeys could be due to ulcerative colitis and that it could be exacerbated by the stress inflicted by captive conditions.
Further studies would be required to confirm our hypothesis, to find out the exact aetiological factor and any zoonotic risk due to the agent involved. The previously-unreported combination of stress-induced ulcerative colitis in captive bonnet monkeys complicated by toxic megacolon has prompted this paper.
Key words: stress-induced diarrhoea; inflammatory-bowel disease; toxic megacolon; ulcerative colitis; bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)
References
Folia Veterinaria / 2000