Air sacculitis in three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and one Japanese macaque (M. fuscata)

Abstract

Bacterial infection of the laryngeal air sacs (air sacculitis) is infrequently reported in nonhuman primates, where it leads to chronic respiratory disease. It is particularly uncommon in macaques; however, we report here suppurative air sacculitis with extension to adjacent cervical tissues in three rhesus macaques and one Japanese macaque. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp., and an anaerobic bacterium were isolated.

Keywords: cervical abscess; laryngeal air sac; monkey; nonhuman primate.