With regard to tuberculosis in monkeys, it is generally said that it bears some resemblance to that in men. But few instances of the cases are reported.
Our observations of the monkeys in Nogeyama Zoo, Yokohama have been carried on from the year 1953. Four cases of tuberculous monkeys were found until March, 1958. Two of those cases were examined pathologically as well as bacteriologically, and the others clinically.
Our knowledge of the physiological conditions of the monkeys observed by us being still inadequate, final conclusions of this study have to be entrusted to future investigations. Therefore, the following tentative observations and conclusions are reported in this present paper upon the data gathered up to this time.
1. The
Mycobacterium tuberculosisvar.
hominiswas segrigated from the pathologic regions of two dead monkeys.
2. The pathological-histological picture of the monkeys bore a strong resemblance to that of a man. No significant difference between the two pictures was seen.
3. As ordinary X ray pictures did not answer for the purpose of making a diagnosis of tuberculous monkeys at an early stage of their contagion, dislocation pictures were required. They were useful for the detection of the progress of the disease. Before taking X ray pictures, it seems to be desirable to apply general narcosis to the cases.
4. Diffusible reddening was caused by the intradermal test in eyelid with x 100 old tuberculin in the present cases.
5. The erythrocyte sedimentations rate seemed to be useful for the diagnosis of the condition of the disease, but any degree of regular change did not seem to be occasioned in blood cell values and cellular changes.
6. When several monkeys were kept together, the strongest of them appeared to be more liable to be infected to tuberculosis than others; for he may have more occasions to make contact with a man with tuberculosis; infection among themselves may be also considerable. If we want to detect the presence of the disease among monkeys kept by us, we get some diagnostic insight by observing their daily behavior, and noticing a light cough.
7. Chemotherapy of tuberculous monkeys, if conduted according to that of a tuberculous man, will generally be gratifying.
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