An adult wild-caught female tamarin (Saguinus mystax) housed in a biomedical research facility was found moribund and extremely dehydrated, with severe
diarrhea. She initially responded to supportive
therapy but died 3 days later. Necropsy findings included
hyperemia of the colonic mucosa, mesenteric
lymphadenopathy, acanthocephalid parasites (Prosthenorchis elegans) embedded in the mucosa of the terminal ileum and cecum, and free filarid nematodes (Dipetalonema sp.) in the abdominal cavity. Campylobacter sp. was recovered from the colon. With the exception of changes associated with the parasites, significant histologic changes were limited to the colon. Changes consistent with acute enteric
viral infection were found against a background of chronic
inflammation. Enterocytes were variably hypertrophied, degenerate, and attenuated. Numerous epithelial syncytial cells were present, and some affected cells (uni- as well as multinucleated) contained intranuclear inclusions. Lymphoid follicles were mildly depleted and contained rare syncytia.
Measles (
Morbillivirus) infection was confirmed by using immunohistochemistry,
reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Southern blot analysis. In contrast to the cutaneous
rash, respiratory involvement, and low mortality characteristic of Old World monkeys with
measles, severe
diarrhea with high mortality occurs in New World monkeys with this disease. In addition, our case differs from previous reports of
measles in New World monkeys in that syncytial cell formation apparently was limited to the colon of our animal.