Siderophilic bodies associated with hemosiderosis and atypical mycobacterial infection in an island siamang (Hylobates syndactylus)

Abstract

Laminated iron concretions were noted in the liver of an aged siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) that had granulomatous enteritis and hepatitis due to Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection. Preexisting hepatic siderosis, iron sequestration in macrophages, and compromised macrophage function due to mycobacterial infection are proposed as the basis for the abundance and size of the concretions. Similar siderophilic bodies and concomitant siderosis occurred in other siamangs. The concretions are similar to Schumann bodies and Michaelis-Gutmann bodies associated with granulomatous disease in other species.