ALVEOLAR HYDATIDOSIS IN A GORILLA AND A RING-TAILED LEMUR IN JAPAN

Alveolar hydatidosis by Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infection occ urred on a 22-year-old (approx.) male gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and a 4-year-old female ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) in a zoo, in Hokkaid o, Japan. Case 1: The gorilla presented neurologic signs in course of nine months and died. Pathologically, alveolar hydatid lesions were fo und in the liver, the liver-associated lymph nodes, the cerebrum, and the lungs. A protoscolex was found only in one hepatic cyst. Case 2: I n the lemur, large masses of hydatide cysts were found on the liver an d at the lung-associated lymph nodes. Cysts contained numerous calcare ous corpuscles and protoscolices. The lemur appears a favorable interm ediate-host for Em. The identification of Em in both cases were confir med by PCR.