Outbreak of larval Echinococcus multilocularis infection in Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) in a zoo, Hokkaido: western blotting patterns in the infected monkeys

J Vet Med Sci. 2005 Jan;67(1):133-5. doi: 10.1292/jvms.67.133.

Abstract

A high prevalence of larval Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infection was found in zoo primates in Hokkaido, Japan. In October 1997, a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) died and histopathologically diagnosed as alveolar hydatidosis. Serum samples were collected from the remaining Japanese monkeys and examined for antibodies against Em by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Serological tests showed 12 more animals of the remaining 57 monkeys were possibly infected. Ultrasonography revealed that nine of these 12 animals had a cystic lesion in the liver. The band patterns of western blotting in the monkeys were very similar to those in human.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Zoo / parasitology*
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Blotting, Western / veterinary
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / epidemiology
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic / veterinary*
  • Echinococcus multilocularis*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Macaca / parasitology*
  • Monkey Diseases / epidemiology
  • Monkey Diseases / parasitology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth