Case report on successful treatment for brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata)

Abstract

Background: A brain abscess in human beings is a focal infection of the central nervous system frequently characterized by areas of localized cerebritis and central necrosis surrounded by a well vascularized capsule. A brain abscess, although sporadically reported, is relatively rare disease in domestic animals (horses, cattle, goats and alpacas), companion animals (dogs and cats) and laboratory nonhuman primates. Brain abscesses are life threatening disease that needs early and aggressive veterinary therapy.

Case presentation: The purpose of this study on a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey was to report the investigational and therapeutic processes including clinical observations, hematological and serum biochemical profiles, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, probiotic and antibiotic therapy. In clinical observation, the monkey presented with slowly progressive gentle and depressed behavioral change. Hematological findings showed that slightly declined platelet counts gradually increased in the course of the treatment. Serum biochemical profiles revealed initial markedly elevated. A series of chemotherapy provide prominent relief from the influence of the brain abscess. MRI images illustrated that a brain abscess was located in the right frontal lobe and the mass was delineated by a thick rim, indicating the capsule formation stage. The lesion chronologically decreased in size over the course of treatment. Until 11 weeks after treatment of the brain abscess, the size of brain abscess continued to reduce, leaving an organized lesion trace. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first report on successful treatment for a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata).

Conclusions: Medical management of simian brain abscesses is possible based on the controlled and resolving nature of the lesions as determined by MRI and completion of a of chemical antibiotic treatment presented in this study.

Keywords: Antibiotics therapy; Brain abscess; Chemotherapy; Hematology; Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata); Magnetic resonance imaging; Serum biochemistry.

Fig. 1

MRI images of a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (0W). T1-weighted MRI. Cross hairs indicate a lesion. A Transection. B Sagital section. C Horizontal section T2-weighted MRI. Arrowheads indicates a lesion. D Horizontal section. T1- and T2-weighted MRI images illustrates a well-defined spherical shaped lesion which was isointense. This lesion was confirmed in the right frontal lobe

Fig. 2

MRI images of a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (4W). T1-weighted MRI. Cross hairs indicate a lesion. A Transection. B Sagital section. C Horizontal section. T2-weighted MRI. Arrowheads indicates a lesion. D Horizontal section. T1- and T2-weighted MRI images illustrates the capsule formation stage of a brain abscess without inflammatory response. The lesion decreased in size by treatment

Fig. 3

MRI images of a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (6W). T1-weighted MRI. Cross hairs indicate a lesion. A Transection. B Sagital section. C Horizontal section. T2-weighted MRI. Arrowheads indicates a lesion. D Transection. E Horizontal section. T1- and T2-weighted MRI images illustrates the content is not found in the brain abscess

Fig. 4

MRI images of a brain abscess in a Japanese monkey (11W). T1-weighted MRI. Cross hairs indicate a lesion. A Transection. B Sagital section. C Horizontal section. T2-weighted MRI. Arrowheads indicates a lesion. D Transection. E Horizontal section. T1- and T2-weighted MRI mages illustrates the content is not found in the brain abscess. The size of the brain abscess apparently reduce, leaving an organized lesion trace