Search

Five tamarins (four Saguinus mystax and one S. labiatus) died with wasting syndrome characterized by chronic diarrhea at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Non-Human Primates in Iquitos, Peru. At necropsy, the terminal ileum of all affected tamarins was found to be markedly thickened. Histologically, the terminal ileal mucosa was completely ulcerated, and effaced by debris and mononuclear inflammatory cells. The submucosa and serosa were thickened by fibroplasia, mononuclear cell infiltrates and variable edema. No infectious agent was observed. The lesions were similar to those described previously for Crohn disease. This is to our knowledge the first report of terminal ileitis resembling Crohn disease in non-human primates.

One hundred and forty-three sakis (Pithecia), 107 bearded sakis (Chiropotes), and 7 red uakaris (Cacajao) were studied in relation to 18 genetic loci expressed on blood through electrophoretic techniques. Eight of the 18 loci showed intrapopulational variation. The low level of genetic diversity found inPithecia could be a consequence of a decrease in populational size due to intense habitat destruction. The genetic distances between the species investigated were:Pithecia ×Chiropotes: 0.49;Pithecia ×Cacajao: 0.57;Cacajao ×Chiropotes: 0.18–0.20. These results suggest, in accordance with other data, thatChiropotes andCacajao constitute a sister group within the pithecines.

An electrophoretic survey of 15 protein systems (22 loci) was employed to determine the genetic relationships among 9 populations (441 individuals) of South American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus, S. sciureus boliviensis, and S. sciureus ustus). Genetic markers capable of differentiating the second from the two other taxa were observed mainly in the ADA and GPI systems. Heterogeneity for ADA and CA2 between populations from opposite banks of the Jamari river was verified in S. sciureus ustus. The average heterozygosities ranged from 3% to 5%, the lowest being in S. sciureus sciureus and the highest in S. sciureus boliviensis. Low genetic distances (D = 0.001-0.057) were observed between populations within taxa or between S. sciureus sciureus and S. sciureus ustus. But both differed to a larger extent from S. sciureus boliviensis (D = 0.11 in both comparisons). There is a positive correlation between the genetic and geographic distance matrices. The three taxa are more clearly separated (D = 0.76-0.77) from the outgroup used for comparison (Cebus apella). Our data suggest that there is only one large, polytypic species of squirrel monkeys in South America, S. sciureus, forming a contiguous ring of geographical races or subspecies. Two of the most differentiated forms meet at the Peruvian Amazonia where natural hybrids and secondary intergradation have been reported. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed for 72 owl monkeys that died between January 1987 and May 1990 at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Nonhuman Primates in Iquitos, Peru. Tissue samples from 39 animals were examined. Hypertrophic cardiac disease (51% of animals examined), dilative cardiomyopathy (26%), and nephropathy (87%) were the most common diagnoses. The incidence of all three diseases appeared to increase with time in captivity. Nephropathy was less severe in colony-born animals.

From January 1987 to November 1990, 125 adult Saguinus mystax died at the CRCP. Enteritis/colitis (26%), hypoglycemia/cachexia (19%), and parasitic enteritis (13%) were the most common causes of death. Less common were purulent peritonitis (9%), lobular pneumonia (8%), and hemorrhagic gastroenterocolitis (6%). These results confirm the high frequency of gastroenteric lesions reported in Callitrichidae in captivity.

Four hundred and fifty wild-caught owl monkeys (Aotus nancymai) were shipped from Iquitos, Peru to Richland, Washington. Mortality and body weight changes from the time of shipment to 30 days after arrival were evaluated using age, sex, and transit time as comparison criteria. No association between mortality and sex, age, or transit time was observed. The mortality percentage from shipment to 30 days after arrival was 2.44%. Both age and transit time had a significant effect on weight changes, but sex did not. Shipping procedures are described.

The purpose of this study was to determine serum reference values for creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in captive-born and wild-caught owl monkeys to assess their usefulness for diagnosing myocardial disease.Blood samples were collected for CK, AST and LDH determinations. In addition, urine samples were collected and semiquantitative tests performed.There was no statistically significant difference between CK, AST and LDH when comparing both groups. However, when comparing monkeys with proteinuria to those without proteinuria, a statistically significant difference in CK value was observed (P = 0.021). In addition the CK/AST ratio revealed that 29% of the animals included in this study had values suggesting cardiac infarction. Grossly, cardiac concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle and small, pitted kidneys were the most common findings. Microscopically, myocardial fibrosis, contraction band necrosis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of coronary arteries, medium-sized renal arteries and afferent glomerular arteriolae were the most significant lesions, along with increased mesangial matrix and hypercellularity of glomeruli, Bowman's capsule and peritubular space fibroplasia.These findings suggest that CK, AST and LDH along with urinalysis provide a reliable method for diagnosing cardiomyopathies in the owl monkey. In addition, CK/AST ratio, proteinuria and the observed histological and ultrastructural changes suggest that Aotus vociferans suffer from arterial hypertension and chronic myocardial infarction.

There are few reports and poorly documented field studies about the reproductive biology of the owl monkey (Aotus spp.). Reproductive data were collected from a breeding colony of owl monkeys (Aotus nancymai) held at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Non-Human Primates in Iquitos, Peru, for the past 10 years. Seventy nine breeding pairs have produced 180 offspring in a period of 3,619 months, representing an average of about one offspring for every 20 months that a pair was housed together. Neonatal mortality in the first week was 7.1%. Litter size was almost one (99.4%). The mean age at first birth in a group of nine females born in captivity was 40.56 ± 7.82 (S.D.) months. The mean age of a group of 12 males born in the colony when their female mates produced offspring was 42.17 ± 10.73 (S.D.) months. Gestation length did not exceed 141 days. Interbirth interval averaged 12.72 months. A birth peak was observed from October to January. Breeding Aotus nancymai on a large scale in captivity is feasible.

A survey for helminth parasites in feral New World non-human primates was conducted and compared with parasitological data from man in the region. A total of 835 fecal samples were collected from feral Aotus nancymae, A. vociferans, Saguinus labiatus, S. mystax, Saimiri boliviensis peruviensis, S. sciureus macrodon, Lagothrix lagotricha and Cacajao calvus rubicundus. In addition, adult parasites were collected from necropsies performed on monkeys that died during quarantine and in captivity. Helminth parasites shared by non-human primates and man in Peru were Ancylostoma braziliensis and Ascaris lumbricoides, found in a captive L. lagotricha; Necator americanus, found in a captive C. calvus rubicundus; Hymenolepis diminuta, found in feral Aotus spp. and S. mystax; and a single Trichuris spp. specimen found in a feral S. sciureus macrodon.

A wild-caught male Aotus vociferans died spontaneously during quarantine. Histologic examination of the heart showed several small myocardial arteries replaced with fibrinoid necrosis and adjacent inflammation that included lymphocytes and large histiocytic cells. Less often, similar inflammatory foci were observed in the myocardium interstitium. The lesions observed in the heart of the owl monkey resembled Aschoff bodies.

Two captive-born Saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) died unexpectedly in the primate colony at the Peruvian Primatological Project. At necropsy, a firm, mobile, oblong, obscure mass was discovered in the stomach of each. They were removed and determined to be trichobezoars.

Of the 232 tamarins (133 Saguinus mystax and 99 Saguinus labiatus) that died at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Nonhuman Primates in Iquitos, Peru from January 1987 to December 1990, 23 monkeys (9.9%) were diagnosed as having chronic colitis. Typically, the cecal and colonic mucosa was greyish and small yellowish cysts, measuring 1-4 mm, were found randomly distributed bulging the mucosa. Microscopically, colitis cystica profunda was diagnosed additionally in six more animals, giving a total of 29 cases (12.5%). This is the first report to our knowledge that describes colitis cystica profunda in a nonhuman primate.

An adult male Aotus nancymae maintained for breeding purposes was submitted for surgery and the left testicle was removed. The surgically removed mass was about two to three times the size of a normal adult owl monkey testicle. Grossly, on cut surface, the mass was soft, white to pale gray, and bulged above the adjacent tissue. Microscopically, the morphology of the tumor cells was consistent with a seminoma.

To determine the main causes of death in "owl monkeys" (Aotus nancymae and A. vociferans) in captivity, 115 necropsies were performed. According to the macroscopic findings and clinical data, results are as follow: acute lobular pneumonia (25.2%), chronic nephropathy (10.4%), acute catarrhal enteritis (8.7%), acute hemorrhagic enteritis (7%), acute toxic hepatitis (5.2%), trauma (5.2%), and others.

An adult male Callimico goeldii died spontaneously. At necropsy, small whitish foci were found randomly distributed on the liver surface. Histologically, the foci were composed of mixed inflammatory cells with predominant polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and central areas of necrosis. Microbiological cultures revealed a Gram-negative coccoid-bacilli with bipolar staining. Biochemical analysis revealed that the microorganism was Pasteurella haemolytica.

A wild-caught adult female Saguinus mystax died after 54 months in captivity. At necropsy, a small reddish zone in the renal cortex of one kidney was shown histologically to be a hemangiosarcoma.