Cholesterol granulomas in three meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Cholesterol granulomas are uncommon pathologic lesions in animals, although they are important intracranial tumors in humans. This report describes ch olesterol granulomas associated with multiple organ systems of three captiv e meerkats. In the most severe case, meerkat No. 1, the pathologic behavior of the cholesterol granuloma was unique in that it appeared to locally inv ade the cerebrum and calvarium, possibly contributing to neurological defic its observed antemortem. A review of other meerkat necropsies revealed inci dental, asymptomatic cholesterol granulomas in organs of two other individu als, meerkat Nos. 2 and 3. Histologically, all lesions were composed of cho lesterol clefts admired with large, foamy macrophages containing hemosideri n, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and foci of miner alization. Hypercholesterolemia was documented in two of the three meerkats .