Pathological Findings in a Captive Senile Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) With Chronic Renal Failure and Septic Polyarthritis

Abstract

A case of chronic renal failure associated with septic polyarthritis affecting a 39-year-old male Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is described. The gorilla developed a chronic interstitial nephritis associated with severe diffuse renal fibrosis, which was associated with several extra-renal uremic lesions, including uremic pneumopathy and gastropathy. Several joints presented gross and microscopic changes compatible with chronic active arthritis and athrosis, which were associated with inflammation of adjacent soft tissues. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from sites of phlegmon and cellulitis, whereas Enterobacter sp. and Proteus mirabilis were cultured from osteoarticular lesions. Additional conditions, including testicular atrophy and leydigocytoma, a large cell lung carcinoma, calcinosis circunscripta, among others, have also been diagnosed in this senile gorilla.