Osteoarthritis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and osseous infection in Old World primates.

Uncertainties as to the nature and implications of osteoarthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) in primates were subject to critical review through examination of 153 prosimians and 1,250 Old World non-prosimian primates. Osteoarthritis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and infectious arthritis/osteomyelitis were relatively rare phenomena, affecting only 1.7% and 2.5%, respectively, of free-ranging prosimians and other Old World non-prosimian primates. Frequency of infection in Indri and Presbytis appears to reflect a unique susceptibility or exposure. Papio may have a unique predisposition to CPPD. The dichotomy (frequency and joint distribution) between free-ranging and artificially restrained animals suggests caution in interpretation of osteoarthritis or CPPD in non-free-ranging animals.