Gastroesophageal reflux disease in baboons (Papio sp.): a new animal model

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasingly prevalent in the human population. Current animal models require surgical or other manipulation to produce symptoms. An animal model that exhibits spontaneous GERD would provide the opportunity for much-needed research examining the susceptibility, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD. Methods Eight baboons (Papio hamadryas sp.) were diagnosed with GERD histopathologically using biopsies or postmortem tissues. Results The disease was characterized by a spectrum of symptoms comparable with that found in the human population. Some subjects had no gross signs of clinical disease, but were diagnosed by histopathological examination. Almost all subjects presented with at least one clinical sign of the disease. Regurgitation was the most common. Conclusions The baboon may be a superior animal model for GERD research because it is a naturally occurring model and is anatomically and physiologically similar to humans.