Pseudotuberculosis (Yersinia enterocolitica) in the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus).

Abstract

Pseudotuberculosis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica was observed as an enzootic disease of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus). A description is given of the natural disease and its successful reproduction in owl monkeys. The disease was characterized by purulent and necrotizing enteritis, hepatitis, and splenitis. Large colonies of the causative organism were consistently associated with the lesions. Although pseudotuberculosis has been reported in other monkeys, the disease in the authors' primate colonies has been restricted to the owl monkey.