SPONTANEOUS COLITIS CYSTICA PROFUNDA IN CAPTIVE TAMARINS

Of the 232 tamarins (133 Saguinus mystax and 99 Saguinus labiatus) tha t died at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Nonhuman Pri mates in Iquitos, Peru from January 1987 to December 1990, 23 monkeys (9.9%) were diagnosed as having chronic colitis. Typically, the cecal and colonic mucosa was greyish and small yellowish cysts, measuring 1- 4 mm, were found randomly distributed bulging the mucosa. Microscopica lly, colitis cystica profunda was diagnosed additionally in six more a nimals, giving a total of 29 cases (12.5%). This is the first report t o our knowledge that describes colitis cystica profunda in a nonhuman primate.