Ileal Intussusception Caused by Prosthenorchis sp. in a Gray Marmoset (Saguinus leucopus) Held in a Wildlife Reception Center in Colombia

Abstract

<em>Prosthenorchis</em> sp. is a common acanthocephalan in primates of the genus <em>Saguinus</em>, which produces gastrointestinal lesions associated with chronic diarrhea and low body condition. The diagnosis is incidental and surgical removal of the parasite is necessary as a treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapeutic management of a <em>Saguinus leucopus</em> with nodules and ileal intussusception caused by <em>Prosthenorchis</em> sp. During the clinical examination, the patient was depressed, prostrate, hypothermic, and presenting low body condition, with generalized skin desquamation, alopecia in the distal third of the tail, and chipped canine teeth. Abdominal palpation evidenced nodules in groins. The blood count presented leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia low hemoglobin hypochromia and mild polychromatophilia. <em>Prostenorchis</em> sp. eggs and strongyles were found in stool. The patient was admitted to surgery, through which ileal intussusception was detected for this reason, an enterotomy was performed followed by end-to-side enteroenterostomy of the ileum to the antimesenteric border of the caecum. Despite the antibiotic and analgesic treatment, the patient did not improve, it went into cardiac arrest and died. The histopathologic diagnosis was fibrinous peritonitis. This was a typical clinical history of <em>Prosthenorchis</em> sp., in which the patient’s prognosis was bad and the outcome was not favorable, due both to parasitism and nutritional deficiencies present. Surgery is the treatment of choice however, it is necessary to consider that patients with advanced clinical symptoms have a poor prognosis.