Lead poisoning was diagnosed in five of seven primates affected with leuccencephalomyelosis that were necropsied at the National Zoological Park and the Antwerp Zoo. Diagnoses of lead poisoning were made by various means including the detection of acid-fast intranuclear inclusions in renal proximal tubular cells and the presence of excess lead in the liver specimens.

The implications of the concurrence of lead intoxication and leucoencephalomyelosis is discussed with regard to etiology and pathogenesis.