Toxoplasmosis in a colony of New World monkeys

In a colony of New World monkeys five tamarins (Saguinus oedipus, Saguinus labiatus and Leontopithecus rosal. rosal.), three marmosets (Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix pygmaea) and one saki (Pithecia pithecia) died suddenly. The colony comprised 16 marmosets, 10 tamarins and three sakis. The main pathological findings were necrotic lesions in the lung, the intestine, and the liver.

Histopathologically T. gondii parasites were observed in organs from the tamarins and the marmosets but not in the saki. Some considerations on epidemiology are presented. Preventive measures were directed against the bottom layer of the cages, on cockroach extermination, and on freezing of raw meat.