Pachyonychia congenita-like disorder in cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus).

A spontaneous genodermatosis in 13 cotton-top tamarins is described as a retrospective study. The disease appeared as alopecia, pigmentary disturbances, and claw dystrophy similar but not identical to human Pachyonychia congenita. The disease in the tamarins seems to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, becoming clinically apparent around adolescence. In certain families the neonatal mortality rate was also above average, reaching 100%.