Abstract
Investigating the causes of death in nonhuman primates (NHPs) in their natural environment is essential for distinguishing traumatic events from diseases of epidemiological significance. This study describes the first recorded death due to intraspecific conflict in a wild albino marmoset (Callithrix sp.) and the use of imaging to diagnose the “cause of death”. The animal, a young male, was found dead in a forest fragment surrounded by extensive sugarcane monocultures. Pathological examination revealed lesions and fractures concentrated in the occipital and humeral regions, a pattern consistent with craniocerebral trauma resulting from aggression by conspecifics. Additionally, the individual exhibited phenotypic abnormalities rare in wild populations: albinism and unilateral cryptorchidism. The identification of lethal traumatic lesions allowed for a negative differential diagnosis for notifiable diseases, such as yellow fever, demonstrating the effectiveness of necropsy in preventing false public health alerts and optimizing public health surveillance efforts. From an ecological perspective, the concurrent occurrence of albinism and cryptorchidism points to population genetic stress, suggesting that the isolation imposed by chronic habitat fragmentation intensifies processes of inbreeding and genetic drift, in addition to exacerbating territorial disputes over limited resources. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that the forensic pathology of PNH transcends the monitoring of infectious diseases, integrating behavioral, genetic, and ecological data that are fundamental to informing conservation strategies and strengthening One Health surveillance efforts.