Respiratory pathogens in non-human primates with special refererence to Corynebacterium ulcerans

Abstract

An investigation of 272 non-human primates (75 Macacca cynomolgus, 97 Macacca mulatta and 100 Cercopithecus aethiops) revealed a high incidence of respiratory disease caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans, Staphylococci, Diplococci and Streptococci. Escherichia coli was also found as a secondary invader. Most of the infections occurred during winter in Macaca cynomolgus and were caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans and Diplococcus pneumoniae. The C. ulcerans strains were phage type VI G. A phage type III C strain was isolated from a Macacca mulatta. The high incidence of C. ulcerans suggests that this organism plays a significant role in the pathology of respiratory disease in the non-human primate.

Investigations of 2 Cases of Diphtheria-Like Illness Due to Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans

“…Year Country Animal source Clinical presentation [4] 2006 France Dog Nose (asymptomatic) [5] 2005 France Dog Labial lesion, rhinorrhea [6] 2005 United States Goat Meningoencephalitis [7] 2002 United Kingdom Free-ranging otters Lung tissue, intestines (postmortem) [8] 2002 United Kingdom Cats Chronic nasal discharge [9] 2000 Spain Dromedary camel Caseous lymphadenitis [10] 2000 United States Macaque Cephalic implants [11] 1999 France Cows Mastitis [12] 1988 Canada Richardson ground squirrels Gangrenous dermatitis [13] 1984 United Kingdom Cows Mastitis [14] 1984 Romania Horses Unknown [15] 1977 Romania Nonhuman primates Respiratory tract [16] 1974 United States Bonnet macaque Mastitis [17] 1972 United States Monkeys Pneumonia, lung abscess, cervical abscess, bite wounds [18] 1967 United Kingdom Dairy herds Mastitis epidemiologic investigations of these 2 cases of respiratory diphtheria-like illnesses caused by C. ulcerans in Washington and Tennessee.…”

Meeting Report

“…As seen with this case, bacterial culture is frequently required to identify the specific agent(s) responsible for clinical signs. 14,35 S . aureus is a commensal of primate skin and nasopharynx but is also a common cause of secondary pneumonia, dermatitis, bite wound abscesses, and other infections in macaques.…”

Active Circulation of Corynebacterium ulcerans among Nonhuman Primates

“…However, toxigenic C. ulcerans has also been isolated from a wide range of animals including cows, horses, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, camels, otters, ground squirrels, and hedgehogs ( 1 , 3 , 5 ). Moreover, C. ulcerans has been isolated from multiple species of nonhuman primates (NHP) including cynomolgus macaques, bonnet macaques, rhesus macaques and gray langurs ( 1 , 6 – 8 ). C. ulcerans has been isolated from NHP immediately after capture ( 8 ) as well as at various primate centers ( 6 – 10 ).…”