Intraperitoneal foreign body disease in a baboon (Papio hamadryas).

In a baboon group housed at the German Primate Center one animal became conspicuous with signs of massive abdominal pain in the upper gastric region. After clinical investigation an acute bloat-syndrome was suspected as cause of the animals' sickness. Symptomatic therapy was started but the animal died within a few hours. At necropsy a large piece of wood was found within the right kidney and liver. Prior to this, the foreign body passed the gastrointestinal tract and perforated the proximal colon. A clinico-pathologic description of this uncommon spontaneous foreign body disease is given. The significance of injuries related to environmental enrichment is discussed.