Spontaneous pancreatic islet cell tumor in a black and white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza kikuyuensis)

J Med Primatol. 2008 Feb:37 Suppl 1:11-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2007.00259.x.

Abstract

A 12-year-old, male black and white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza kikuyuensis) from a small community zoo presented with a 6-month history of mild, slowly progressive ataxia and paresis culminating in an acute episode of recumbency, depression, and seizures. The animal was humanely euthanatized. Gross post-mortem examination revealed significant abnormalities including diffuse pallor of the carcass and a firm, pale, 8-cm diameter mass, adherent to the serosa of the proximal duodenum and colon, and embedded within the pancreas and mesenteric root. Histologically, the mass had characteristics of a neuroendocrine or endocrine tumor. Immunohistochemical stains for chromogranin, synaptophysin, insulin, and glucagon were positive, confirming the diagnosis of a mixed pancreatic islet cell tumor. These tumors are rare in all species except ferrets and unreported previously in colobus monkeys.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma, Islet Cell / diagnosis
  • Adenoma, Islet Cell / pathology
  • Adenoma, Islet Cell / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Colobus*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Duodenum / pathology
  • Euthanasia, Animal
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Monkey Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Monkey Diseases / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / veterinary*