Valvular Endocarditis In A Captive Monkey In Ibadan, Nigeria: A Case Report

Abstract

Primates are present in large number in the game reserves and national parks throughout Nigeria and other parts of the world (Ayodele, 1988). Out of these primates, monkeys and baboons seem to be most abundant. The interrelationship between these primates and humans, as relates to disease similarity is of great importance (Tribe and Bassett, 1978). Congestive heart failure which can be due to mural or valvular endocarditis has been found to be a product of a septicaemic condition (Robinson and Maxie, 1985). There have been various reports of the pathology of heart related conditions in primates in different parts of the world (Isoun et al., 1972; McConnell et al., 1974; Levin and Carey, 1986 and Cantrell et al., 1986). However, there is dearth of information on heart related condition in Nigeria (Chineme et al., 1978); hence this report presents a case of valvular endocarditis associated with hepatic necrosis and hemorrhagic pneumonia in a captive monkey Cercocebus torquatus torgilatus) at the University of Ibadan Zoological garden of the University of Ibadan.

Keywords: Monkey, Endocarditis, Ibadan, Nigeria

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (3) 2007 pp. 49-52