J. Comp. Path. 2000, Vol. 123, 202–206 doi:10.1053/jcpa.2000.0396, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on SHORT PAPER Antioxidant Status in a Squirrel Monkey ( Saimiri sciureus) with Chronic Pancreatitis and Degenerative Myopathy C. Juan-Salle ´s, N. Prats*, J. M. Ruiz†, X. Valls, J. Gine ´ ‡, M. M. Garner§, J. Verge ´s and A. Marco* Clı ´nica Exo `tics, c/ Balmes 454, 08022 Barcelona, *U. D. Histologia i Anatomia Patolo `gica, Facultat de Veterina `ria, Universitat Auto `noma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, †Laboratorio de Diagno ´stico General, c/ Verdi 78 baixos, 08012 Barcelona, ‡Clı ´nica Veterina `ria Drs. Florit i Casas, c/ Paris 163, 08036 Barcelona, Spain and §Northwest ZooPath, 18210 Waverly Drive, Snohomish, Washington 98296–4815, USA Summary A squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) presented with wasting, vomiting and diarrhoea. Haematology revealed elevation of creatinine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase and lipase, together with azotaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Prominent findings were chronic pancreatitis with acinar and ductal plugs, granulomatous and necrotizing peripancreatic steatitis, degenerative myopathy, testicular atrophy, candidiasis and bacterial necrotizing glossitis. Antioxidant analyses revealed low concentrations of serum vitamin E (and apparently A), hepatic selenium and hair zinc. Pancreatitis may have caused malabsorption and maldigestion, associated with deficiency of multiple antioxidants.  2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd Degenerative myopathy (DM) is an important dis- diet, and developed symptoms shortly thereafter. Physical examination revealed hypothermia, ease of animals, frequently caused by dietary vit- amin E deficiency, or selenium deficiency, or both. bradycardia, diarrhoea with fresh blood, gen- eralized muscle atrophy, pale mucous membranes, There are a few reports of DM associated with low vitamin E concentrations in New World primates; and a dry and dull haircoat with focal hypotrichosis. There were Strongyloides eggs in the faeces; culture and DM has been induced in squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus) fed a selenium-deficient diet (Baskin of a rectal swab yielded no pathogenic bacteria. Haematology revealed haemoconcentration, eleva- et al., 1983; Chalmers et al. , 1983; Meydani et al., 1983). In man, deficiency of multiple antioxidants tion of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic de- hydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase is common in chronic pancreatitis (CP) (Segal et al. , 1995; Van Gossum et al., 1996). Little is known (ALT), amylase and lipase, together with mild hypo- albuminaemia and prerenal azotaemia (Table 1). about the pancreatic diseases of non-human prim- ates (other than diabetes mellitus). The purpose of Despite impaired deglutition, the animal improved with treatment (fluids, B-complex and fat-soluble this paper is to describe a case of DM associated with CP and an apparent deficiency of multiple vitamins, enrofloxacin, dexamethasone, iver- mectin, selenium and forced feeding), as judged by antioxidants in a squirrel monkey. A 0·6-kg, young-adult male squirrel monkey pre- diuresis and disappearance of blood from faeces within 24 h, and remission of diarrhoea (day 3). sented (day 1) with wasting, anorexia, diarrhoea and vomiting; it had been quarantined for 6 However, azotaemia worsened despite rehydration and there was a 3·8- and 2·8-fold rise in amylase months, with an unknown medical history and 0021–9975/00/060202+05 $35.00  2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd