Trichospirura leptostoma: a possible cause of wasting disease in the marmoset.

An outbreak of wasting disease-like syndrome in a marmoset colony was found to have been caused by a nematode. After passing through several larval stages in an intermediate host, the cockroach, the parasite inhabited the pancreas of the marmoset. The cardinal symptoms were emaciation, anaemia, and elevated hepatic enzyme activities; the pancreas reacted with a fibrosing inflammation.