The introduced free-ranging rhesus and patas monkey populations of southwestern Puerto Rico

Rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and patas (Erythrocebus patas) monkeys escaped to the mainland of southwestern Puerto Rico (SWPR) from research colonies on small offshore islands during the 1960s and through 1982. A three year study (1990-1993) combined radio-telemetry with visual observations to collect information on population sizes, the composition of social groups, their daily movements, and their home ranges. Two populations of rhesus monkeys were identified in SWPR: one within the study area in Sierra Bermeja and a second population located 10 km north of the study area. The size of the Sierra Bermeja rhesus population was derived from escapees from research colonies and at the time of the study was 65-85 individuals. Within their home range area (3.7 km2) the density of this population was >>18.9 individuals/km2. A second rhesus population was found in a mountainous region 10 km north of the study area. This population consisted of one (or two) heterosexual groups with a total of 40-45 individuals. Although a primary characteristic of this species in India is its ability to live as a commensal with humans, the rhesus monkey populations of SWPR are extremely shy and elusive, they avoid contact with humans. The patas monkey population consisted of >>120 individuals in four heterosexual groups and several all-male bands. There was no evidence of patas monkeys outside the study area. Within their home ranges (26.8 km2) the population density was 4.47 individuals/km2). Patas monkeys have not previously been considered a territorial species, their behavior in SWPR suggested territoriality. In contrast to studies in Africa, where the amount of home range overlap between patas monkey groups in high, in SWPR the amount of range overlap between groups is small and each group uses areas with clearly defined boundaries.

In vitro HIV infection of primate lymphocytes

El propósito de este estudio fue el de evaluar la capacidad de los virus del SIDA (VIH-1 y VIH-2) para multiplicarse en las células mononuclearres de la sangre periférica (CMSP) de cuatro especies de primates. CMSP de Cebus apella, patas (Erythrocebus patas), monos verdes (cercopithecus aethiops sabeus) y rhesus (Macaca mulatta) fueron infectados "in vitro" con VIH-1 y con VIH-2. La multiplicación de estos virus se determinó midiendo la actividad de la enzima retrotranscriptasa en los cultivos infectados. Ambos virus produjeron efectos citipáticos en dichos cultivos. Se observó un bajo nivel de multiplicación de los virus VIH-1 y VIH-2 en las células provenientes de monos Cebus. Sin embargo, el virus VIH-2 se multiplicó eficientemente en CMSP de monos rhesus. La capacidad que posee el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 2, (VIH-2) de multiplicarse en estas células, podría ser utilizada para en la evaluación "in vivo" de productos antivirales y de vacunas

Use of 99mTc-sulfur colloid to assess lymphatic dysfunction in filarial infection.

Investigations of lymphatic dysfunction in animals infected with filarial parasites has been hampered by a paucity of techniques to measure efficiency of lymphatic drainage. In this study a 99mTc-sulfur colloid technique was used to assess the efficiency of lymphatic drainage in Patas monkeys infected with filarial nematodes. In all 15 uninfected hind limbs there was rapid and consistent appearance of labeled colloid in the primary lymph node (popliteal) and subsequently in the secondary nodes (abdomino-pelvic) in 11 of 15 limbs. In contrast, in all eight limbs tested 1-9 months after infection there was reduced rate of migration of the colloid and initial appearance in the abdomino-pelvic region: subsequent accumulation was seen in the popliteal region in only four of the limbs. This data indicated that lymphatic vessels were blocked and that collateral vessels channeled the colloid to the secondary lymph nodes. The lymph flow patterns demonstrated by the isotope technique were supported at autopsy.

Diferentes efectos de la adrenalina sobre el músculo liso traqueal de Erythrocebus patas: predominio de los receptores adrenérgicos alfa / Diferent effects of adrenaline on the Erythrocebus patas tracheal smooth muscle: predominance of alpha-adrenergic receptors

Al comparar la reacción del músculo liso traqueal del cobayo a la adrenalina con la obtenida en la tráquea aislada del mono Erythrocebus patas (E. patas), se encontró que en este último la catecolamina producía contracciones repetidas de duración breve en lugar de la relajación ordinaria que induce en la tráquea del cobayo y de otras especies, incluyendo al hombre. En vista de esto se decidió estudiar el efecto de un agonista (metoxamina) y de un antagonista (zolertina) selectivos para los receptores adrenérgicos alfa sobre la cadena traqueal en ambas especies. La administración de metoxamina al baño de tejido aislado produjo contracción de las tráqueas de ambas especies relacionada con la concentración del agonista. Swin embargo, el músculo liso de Erythrocebus patas resultó ser claramente más sensible que el del cobayo al efecto contráctil de la metoxamina. El contacto previo de las preparaciones con zolertina produjo disminución en la magnitud de las reacciones a la metoxamina. Aunque este fenómeno se observó en las tráqueas de las dos especies, el desplazamiento de las curvas de dosis y respuesta de la metoxamina hacia la derecha ocurrió en el tejido del primate a concentraciones diez veces menores que en el caso del cobayo. Estos resultados sugieren que en el músculo liso traqueal de Erythrocebus patas existe un predominio de los receptores adrenérgicos alfa, lo cual si bien difiere del tejido humano normal parecería tener semejanza con lo que ocurre en el músculo liso traqueobronquial del paciente asmático