The first record of echinococcosis in a captive vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiopicus) in Kuwait

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Departement of Science,College of Basic Education,PAAET,and Veterinary Laboratories,PAAFR,Kuwait

Abstract

In 2019, a 3-years old zoo-raised female vervet 
monkey (Chlorocebus aethiopicus) was dead after 
showing progressive abdominal enlargement, 
apathy, and anorexia. At autopsy, large numbers of 
small cysts with different sizes in the abdominal 
cavity and retroperitoneum. Because of the 
morphology and the tumor-like proliferation of the 
causative agent, Echinococcus multilocularis was 
most probably involved in this case. Although it is 
evident that the monkey was exposed to 
Echinococcus eggs, it is not possible to know the 
route and source of infection. Examination of the 
zoo canids for taeniid eggs revealed a negative 
result. Properly, the animal was exposed to 
infection via the food (fruits and vegetables) 
brought from farms in remote areas in the desert. It 
is assumed that infected wild canids, which are 
common in Kuwait’ desert, contaminate the 
environment in these areas. To the best of our 
knowledge, this report describes echinococcosis 
for the first time in the vervet monkey species in 
Kuwait.

Keywords