White Monkey Syndrome in Infant Baboons (Papio Species)

Over a period of 23 months, a study diagnosed zinc toxicosis in 35 baboons aged 5-12 months housed in a galvanized metal and concrete cage complex, which led to excessive zinc exposure. Clinical signs included reduced pigmentation, alopecia, dehydration, emaciation, dermatitis, diarrhea, and in six cases, severe gangrenous dermatitis. The syndrome was marked by pancytopenia, elevated zinc, low copper serum concentrations, low vitamin D, and atypical myelomonocytic proliferation of bone marrow. This study highlighted the importance of proper husbandry and cage design and suggested that infant baboons could serve as a model for studying the effects of excessive zinc on development. This was the first report detailing the epidemiologic and clinical presentation of zinc toxicosis in captive infant baboons.