HISTOPATHOLOGY OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY CHEILOSIS IN MARMOSET (CALLITHRIX JACCHUS)

A folic acid deficiency syndrome closely resembling the human counterpart has been produced experimentally in cotton ear marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) restricted to a folic acid-free purified diet. Intramuscular injections of the folic acid antagonist, methotrexate, speeded and intensified the onset and emergence of the deficiency disease in animals so treated. Eight of the 15 marmosets developed bilateral angular cheilosis as part of the syndrome. The angular stomatitis followed a clinical course similar to human nutritional deficiency cheilosis. The lesions were characterized histologically by a degeneration and superimposed inflammation of the labial commissures starting at the mucocutaneous junction and sequentially penetrating the epithelial, connective tissue and muscle layers. © 1969.