Spinal epidural empyema in a colobus monkey

Cehrs, E; Beltran, E

Abstract

A 10-year-old, male colobus monkey presented with a kyphotic appearance. Lumbar spinal pain was suspected, and the colobus was started on a course of meloxicam. With no improvement noted, it was sedated for examination. Haematology revealed a neutrophilia. An empirical course of clavulanate potentiated amoxicillin was started. With no improvements seen after a 10-day course, clinical examination was repeated. Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal radiographs revealed an abdominal effusion near the lumbar vertebrae, and haematology revealed a neutrophilia with toxic neutrophils. An enrofloxacin course was started. Three days later, the colobus presented with acute paraplegia with neurolocalisation to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. A magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column was performed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal osteolytic vertebral body lesions, compression fractures of multiple vertebral bodies and ventral spinal cord compression. Differential diagnosis included infectious osteomyelitis with spinal epidural empyema or less likely, neoplasia. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected.

Citation

Cehrs, E., & Beltran, E. (2023). Spinal epidural empyema in a colobus monkey. Vet Record Case Reports, https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.656

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 29, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 9, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2052-6121
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.656
• Keywords: neurology; primates; wildlife; zoo animals; ABSCESS