Normal organ weights, serum chemistry, hematology, and cecal and nasopharyngeal bacterial cultures in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica).

Gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) currently are used in genetic, developmental, oncology, and neurologic research. Little is known about their natural flora or potential for pathogenic infectious disease. The present study aims to improve existing comparative normal blood and organ weight values available to researchers and to describe flora of clinically normal M. domestica to obtain an understanding of potential pathogenic flora in clinically abnormal animals. For evaluation of serum hematology and serum chemistry, clinically normal animals were assigned to 1 of 6 groups stratified by age (younger than 1 y, 1 to 2 y, and 2 to 3 y) and sex. Hemoglobin and phosphorus levels were higher in male than female opossums, whereas monocyte and eosinophil counts were greater in females than males. Hemoglobin concentration decreased with increasing age. The youngest group had significantly higher levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and lower serum protein levels compared with older age groups. Liver and kidney weights of adult animals (1 to 3 y) were greater in female than male opossums. The predominant nasopharyngeal flora in 20 clinically normal animals from the 2- to 3-y-old group were Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.; predominant cecal organisms were Escherichia coli and Citrobacter spp. The availability of reference hematologic values and flora for Monodelphis domestica will aid researchers in comparisons and analysis of experimental data and in diagnosis and evaluation of potential pathogens in clinically ill animals.

Pulmonary masses in a tuberculin skin test-negative olive baboon.

An adult female olive baboon was shipped to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) from another institution and placed in quarantine. This baboon had been wild-caught approximately 1 year earlier. Initial quarantine examination at UIC revealed tachypnea and an elevated white blood cell count. Intradermal tests for tuberculosis were negative. Radiographs demonstrated increased density, three radiopaque masses in the lung fields,and hepatosplenomegaly. Each differential diagnosis considered had a poor prognosis, and the animal was euthanized and a necropsy performed. At necropsy, five intact cysts in the liver and two in the lungs were identified. In addition, the right apical lung lobe was collapsed, contained an apparently old, ruptured cyst, and had numerous fibrous adhesions to the thoracic wall. Microscopic examination of the cysts and cyst-fluid revealed that the cysts were multilaminated structures that contained viable Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices; therefore a diagnosis of hydatidosis was made. Recent advances in tests used to screen humans for hydatidosis have led to the development of an immunoblot and enzyme immunoassay, which are highly sensitive and specific. In this report, we verified the usefulness of these tests for detecting hydatidosis in baboons. Serum from the infected baboon and from three other apparently healthy members of the colony were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be tested. Serum from the infected baboon yielded positive results in both the immunoblot and enzyme immunoassay, whereas tests on serum from the normal baboons were negative. Therefore, both the immunoblot and enzyme immunoassay represent potentially valuable tools for diagnosing hydatidosis in nonhuman primates.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in an adult female olive baboon (Papio anubis).

During an annual physical examination, a middle-aged adult female olive baboon (Papio anubis) in the time-mated breeding colony at the Biologic Resources Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago was found to have a high serum calcium value (> 12 mg/dl). To determine the cause of the hypercalcemia, additional diagnostic tests, including thoracic and abdominal radiographs and a parathyroid panel (parathyroid hormone (PTH), ionized calcium, and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rp) assays), were performed. The radiographs did not reveal lesions suggestive of neoplasia. A parathyroid panel was obtained twice. Both times the PTH (23.4 and 46.4 pmol/L, normal = 2.91 to 4.57 pmol/L) and ionized calcium (1.68 and 2.10 mmol/L, normal = 1.31 to 1.37 mmol/L) were increased above values for adult females with normal calcium concentration. A tentative diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism was made. After a gamma-radiation scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the neck were done, exploratory surgery was performed to identify and remove the affected gland. After gland removal, the baboon's serum calcium, PTH (1.6 pmol/L), and ionized calcium (1.59 mmol/L) values decreased. Results of histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of benign solitary parathyroid adenoma.