INTRODUCTION:

Wasting marmoset syndrome affects the Callitrichidae family reared in captivity, characterized by progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions. It has been one of the main causes of death in primates of this genus.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the existence of histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in jejunal of marmosets that presented a clinical history of the progressive wasting disease in relation to healthy animals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Jejunal biopsies of seven marmosets were performed: five of them, two specimens of Callithrix jacchus and three Callithrix penicillata, were affected by clinical signs of progressive weight loss and muscle weakness; and two healthy animals, one of each cited species, were used as control animals.

RESULTS:

Marmosets with a clinical history of progressive weight loss presented jejunal villus atrophy with a flattened surface; also the goblet cells were scarce and barely functional compared to the control animals.

CONCLUSION:

These changes can cause malabsorption of nutrients and promote the progressive weight loss of callitrichids.