Increased severity or recurrence risk of some specific infectious diarrhea, such a salmonellosis or Clostridium difficile colitis, have been reported after an appendectomy in human patients. While several other mammals also possess an appendix, the suspected protective function against diarrhea conferred by this structure is known only in humans. From a retrospective collection of veterinary records of 1251 primates attributed to 45 species, including 13 species with an appendix and 32 without, we identified 2855 episodes of diarrhea, 13% of which were classified as severe diarrhea requiring a therapeutic medication or associated with a fatal issue. We identified a lower risk of severe diarrhea among primate species with an appendix, especially in the early part of life when the risk of diarrhea is maximal. Moreover, we observed a delayed onset of diarrhea and of severe diarrhea in species possessing an appendix. Interestingly, none of the primates with an appendix were diagnosed, treated or died of an acute appendicitis during the 20 years of veterinarian follow-up. These results clarify the function of the appendix among primates, as protection against diarrhea. This supports its presumed function in humans and is congruent with the existence of a selective advantage conferred by this structure.

据报道，人类患者接受阑尾切除术后，某些特定感染性腹泻（例如沙门氏菌病或艰难梭菌结肠炎）的严重程度或复发风险增加。虽然其他几种哺乳动物也有阑尾，但这种结构赋予的预防腹泻的可疑保护功能仅在人类中已知。通过对 45 个物种的 1251 只灵长类动物的兽医记录进行回顾性收集，其中 13 种有阑尾，32 种无阑尾，我们发现了 2855 次腹泻发作，其中 13% 被归类为需要治疗药物的严重腹泻或与致命性腹泻相关。问题。我们发现有阑尾的灵长类动物发生严重腹泻的风险较低，尤其是在生命早期，腹泻的风险最大。此外，我们观察到具有阑尾的物种腹泻和严重腹泻的延迟发生。有趣的是，在兽医随访的 20 年中，没有一只有阑尾的灵长类动物被诊断、治疗或死于急性阑尾炎。这些结果阐明了灵长类动物阑尾的功能，即预防腹泻。这支持了其在人类中的假定功能，并且与该结构赋予的选择性优势的存在一致。