Spontaneous Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome in a gang-housed baboon

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome can cause acute death in the baboon withou t specific signs. Furthermore, this syndrome could result from stress-relat ed intestinal permeability changes that allow macromolecules and/or microbi ological entities to enter the systemic circulation. The resulting sepsis c ould cause adrenocortical insufficiency, hypotension and shock leading to d eath.