Ultrasonographic examination in non-human primates with acute abdomen signs.
BACKGROUND
The acute abdomen is any abdominal disorder resulting in pain, shock, or sepsis. Although it has a multifactorial etiology, the primary cause is gastrointestinal tract pathology. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of abdominal ultrasound as a complementary diagnostic tool in non-human primates with an acute abdomen.


METHODS
Three different non-human primates with clinical signs of acute abdomen were evaluated as follows: a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), a tufted capuchin (Cebus apella), and a black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata).


RESULTS
Ultrasonographic examination assisted in the identification of a variety of differential diagnoses and was used in decision-making for exploratory laparotomy, which was performed in two animals. Ultrasound examination confirmed the source of the acute abdomen as the gastrointestinal tract in the three animals studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal ultrasound is a useful technique for the investigation of signs of acute abdomen in non-human primates.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Andressa Cristina
AC
de Souza
Rogério Ribas
RR
Lange
Simone Domit
SD
Guerios
Tilde Rodrigues
TR
Froes
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D002428:Cebus; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D014463:Ultrasonography
abdominal pain; foreign body; neoplasia; typhlitis