Clinical Aspects of Primate Medicine

Abstract

<p>Despite the fact that importation of non-human primates for the pet trade was banned in 1976, many people continue to keep them as pets. Although the number of such pets has steadily declined, there are several reasons why clients should continue to be discouraged from owning primates as pets. Non-human primates have a high potential to be carriers of zoonotic diseases including hepatitis, tuberculosis, shigellosis, salmonellosis and Herpes B virus. They are also virtually impossible to toilet train. Additionally, many species are hard to handle, are destructive to property, and have a tendency to bite. Since there will always be a percentage of people who insist on having these exotic pets, the practitioner interested in exotics should be prepared to handle primates as patients. Both the proper equipment and adequate knowledge of their care are necessary. Unprepared and inexperienced clinicians could sustain severe bodily injury or contact zoonotic diseases if not versed in the handling of primates.</p>