GASTRIC INFARCTION IN CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS (MACACA-FASCICULARIS)

Five cases of gastric infarction were observed in adolescent or adult cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) over a 20-month period. Gastr ic infarcts were encountered as striking and unexpected findings at ne cropsy. Gross and microscopic findings included gastric necrosis, hemo rrhage, and edema that involved large areas of the fundus and pylorus. A consistent finding was the presence of thrombi in the gastric micro vasculature, particularly in the venous system. All animals had acute clinical episodes with substantial tissue damage resulting from a vari ety of causes, including trauma, pancreatitis, necrotizing cystitis, a nd intestinal intussusception. In addition, three animals had microvas cular thrombosis in nongastric tissues. Our findings suggest that cyno molgus monkeys may be predisposed to developing gastric infarction und er conditions of severe systemic insult that predispose to disseminate d intravascular coagulation.