Acute Cortical Blindness Associated with Occipital Lobe Compression from Simian T Cell Lymphoma Virus Lymphoma in a Baboon (Papio anubis)

Simian T cell leukemia virus (STLV) is associated with lymphoma in many captive and wild Old World nonhuman primate (NHP) species and is readily transmitted by bodily fluids. The disease is best characterized in baboons with a predisposition for aged female animals. Asymptomatic infections are common; however, clinical signs may include generalized lymphadenopathy, lethargy, and anorexia. Herein, we report a case of disseminated lymphoma in a middle-aged female STLV-positive olive baboon (Papio anubis) that presented with generalized lymphadenopathy and a rapid onset of decreased visual acuity culminating in full vision loss. Postmortem examination revealed a metastatic focus of lymphoma compressing the occipital cortex and is the presumed mechanism of vision loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a neurologic complication associated with an STLV infection in a NHP species.