PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA INFECTIONS IN BABOONS (PAPIO-CYNOCEPHALUS)

The respiratory pathogen Pasteurella multocida was isolated from infec tions of the laryngeal air sacs of two baboons and from abscesses in t he neck or femoral area of two other baboons. The infections were asso ciated with surgical procedures involving the cervical area, chronic c atheterization, and chair restraint. The organism was also detected am ong the commensal pharyngeal flora in 2 of 15 clinically healthy, wild born adult baboons. These findings suggest that the organism is harbor ed naturally in baboons and that exudative infections can occur second ary to specific procedures.