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Renal lithiasis, pyelonephritis, and glomerulonephritis were common in our colony of Brazilian phenotype squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), with glomerulonephritis being a major cause of mortality in adult animals. Squirrel monkey glomerulonephritis was divided into four major classifications, based on light and electron microscopy, similar to those of man: focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, and a combination of membranoproliferative and membranous glomerulonephritis.

Nine congenital defects were seen in six animals during necropsies of 27 aborted or stillborn and 25 neonatal squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) during a two-year period. The defects were left diaphragmatic hypoplasia with herniation; right renal aplasia in conjunction with a right cleft lip and primary palate; supernumerary left kidney; skeletal defects, hydrocephalus, and thyroid anomalies consistent with the campomelic syndrome; atresia ani; and ultimobranchial gland remnants. The high incidence of congenital anomalies (4.9% of births and 11.5% of nonsurviving births) is consistent with a previous report of congenital defects in squirrel monkeys.