The pathology of measles in Abyssinian Colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza): a description of an outbreak.

The pathological changes found in four Abyssinian Colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) dying of measles are described. Warthin-Finkeldey giant cells were plentiful in the lymphoid tissue and spleen, in the mucosa of the alimentary tract and in the lungs, where they accompanied a non-suppurative pneumonia. In the alimentary tract they were most frequent in the colon when an associated colitis was present. Measles virus was recovered from the lung tissue of one animal, the virus being neutralised by both human and rhesus monkey anti-sera. This together with the close similarity between the pathological changes in human and monkey measles, supports the contention that the two diseases are one and due to the same virus.