Unique case of granulomatous arteritis in a grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) – first case description

Abstract

Abstract. Overall, diseases of the vascular system are rarely observed entities among nonhuman primates that are commonly associated with systemic infections, septicemia or bacteremia. Rhesus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) may develop a chronic occlusive arteriopathy of unknown etiology in late stages of the disease. This SIV associated arteriopathy is the only well-known specific vascular entity described in nonhuman primates. We herein report a unique case of granulomatous arteritis in a grey mouse lemur affecting multiple organs, which is not comparable to other disease entities formerly described in nonhuman primates. The features of the entity most closely resemble disseminated visceral giant cell arteritis in humans. A concise description of the disease is given, and the differential diagnoses are discussed. An idiopathic pathogenesis is suspected.

Eosinophilic aortitis with thoracic aortic aneurysm and rupture in a captive‐born owl monkey

“…Recently, a fatal case of granulomatous arteritis affecting multiple organs resembling the human disease giant cell arteritis was described in a grey mouse lemur. 20 However, in the lemur, the lungs were mainly affected sparing the aorta and the inflammatory infiltrate consisted mostly of giant cells with moderate numbers of eosinophils, while in the current case report, no giant cells were observed and the lungs were not affected.…”