Disease Complication in a Geriatric Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) reported from Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) Jogja – Case Study

Abstract

In the current study, a geriatric male pig-tailed macaque having a mass growing up to the left shoulder for the past five months has been reported from the Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) Jogja. It was an approximately 4x4x2 cm, firm, hairless focal non-encapsulated mass suspected as a skin-derivative tumor. A cytological test was performed on the mass and a skin biopsy was carried out to see the tissue content of the mass. Histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was identical to papilloma. In the next step of the study, the surgery was conducted and the mass was removed. However, after surgery, the health condition of the macaque gradually deteriorated and the performed hematological tests revealed a gradual increase in the number of leukocyte cells that indicated a developing chronic inflammatory response. Further, the erythrocyte level was in the normal range but showed a declining trend which suspecting progressing anemia. One month after the surgery general muscle stiffness was reported in the macaque which is a clinical sign of tetanus and the macaque died even after the ATT serum treatments. Necropsy findings confirmed a significant chronic bilateral diffuse pneumonia. This case study showed an unpredicted sequence of disease occurrence in geriatric macaque after undergoing the initial surgery of cutaneous mass extraction. Hence, the results of the study suggest that a routine regular health screening coupled with clinical laboratory examination may assist the early detection based on the subclinical signs of disease in geriatric animals in rehabilitation centers.