ABSTRACT
The reproduction performance of captive owl monkeys, a breed used extensively in biomedical research, was observed at the Battelle Primate Facility (BPF). The colony grew through captive breeding, imports from the Peruvian Primatological Project, and others to a peak size of 730. It included seven karyotypes of Aotus sp. Results showed that owl monkeys can breed successfully in a laboratory in numbers sufficient to sustain modest research programs. Reproductive success increases when pairs are compatible, of the same karyotype, and stabilized; however, mated pairs of different karyotype are also productive. Under conditions of controlled lighting and heating, owl monkeys at BPF showed no birth peak nor birth season.
Subject(s)
Aotidae , Reproduction , Animal Welfare , Animals , Animals, Laboratory , Animals, Wild , Female , Genetic Variation , Male , Research , SeasonsABSTRACT
Serum and urine analytes were compared between adult wild-caught owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae) and adult wild-caught squirrel monkeys (Saimiri peruviensis) to determine if normative clinical pathology data were similar. An objective of the study was to confirm that species of neotropical primates are distinct with regard to physiologic parameters, and should not be considered interchangeable in biomedical research. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were noted in many serum and urine analytes between the two groups. The results suggest that reference data for wild-caught owl monkeys are not applicable to squirrel monkeys, and the differences are sufficiently large to be of clinical significance. These findings illuminate the diversity among species of neotropical primates.
Subject(s)
Aotus trivirgatus/blood , Saimiri/blood , Animals , Animals, Wild , Aotus trivirgatus/urine , Blood Chemical Analysis/veterinary , Blood Proteins/analysis , Electrolytes/blood , Electrolytes/urine , Peru , Proteinuria , Saimiri/urine , Species Specificity , Specimen Handling/instrumentation , Specimen Handling/methods , Specimen Handling/veterinary , Urinalysis/veterinaryABSTRACT
Bile samples were obtained from adult owl monkeys by ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystocentesis, using a transhepatic approach. Sampling frequency was once weekly over a 5-week period. Clinical recovery from each procedure was rapid. Animal body weights fluctuated within 22% of baseline over the study period, but maximal weight loss in any animal was less than 3% at the study's end. At necropsy, gross lesions in the liver and gallbladder were minimal. Histologic examination revealed mild focal cholecystitis in the gallbladder of four of six animals, focal pericholecystitis in three of six animals, and foci of gallbladder fibrosis in two animals. Changes were consistent with repeated trauma from the centesis procedure. Gallbladder mucosa was judged normal in all animals. Body weight fluctuations were attributed to a change in diet, part of a concurrent study, rather than to the centesis procedure. Ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis provides a rapid, minimally traumatic, and safe method for repeated bile sampling in a small nonhuman primate.
Subject(s)
Aotidae , Bile , Specimen Handling/veterinary , Ultrasonography , Animals , Cholecystitis/etiology , Cholecystitis/veterinary , Female , Gallbladder/diagnostic imaging , Male , Specimen Handling/adverse effects , Specimen Handling/methodsABSTRACT
Serum and urine analytes were compared between adult wild-caught and adult colony-born owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae), to determine if normative clinical pathology data were similar. Significant differences (P < or = 0.05) were noted in serum protein, glucose, sodium, urine calcium, calcium clearance, and fractional clearance of calcium between the two groups. The results suggest that reference data for feral owl monkeys is not completely applicable to colony-born animals, however, the differences are too small to be of clinical significance.
