Microscopic pathology of liver of capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons) infected with Athesmia foxi (dicrocoelidae : trematoda) : a pictorial illustration.

Histopathological changes in the livers of two white fronted capuchin monkeys, Cebus albifrons, associated with Athesmia foxi (Dicrocoelidae : Trematoda) infection are illustrated through photomicrographic plates. The lesions are confined in and around the hepatic biliary system. The bile ducts are greatly distended and thickened because of fibroblastic activity and collagen deposit in its walls. In one of the livers desquamative, necrotic and reorganizational changes are found to be well marked. At places the bile duct lumen contains infiltrating inflammatory cells and shed pieces of biliary epithelia mixed in a scanty necrotic tissue while elsewhere the necrotic changes are more pronounced and the bile duct contents are presented only by homogeneous amorphous debris. The overall picture is that of chronic cholangitis coupled with cholangiectasis.