Early puberty in short-haired Guinea pigs kept in laboratory animal facilities.

Lab animals, such as Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), are crucial for scientific development, as they play an important role in the development and quality control chain of vaccines and drugs distributed by the Brazilian public health system. Investigating their biological and physiological parameters is fundamental to raise and keep these animals, so the handling of the facilities that hold them can be updated whenever new information comes up, with the well-being of the animals and alignment with the 3 Rs in mind. In the search for understanding reproductive aspects of Guinea pigs, the present study had the main goal of studying puberty by means of estrous cycle analysis in short-haired Guinea pigs. Guinea pigs have a vaginal occlusive membrane that covers the vaginal orifice. Its rupture takes place gradually and naturally, moments before labor and during estrus. The present study followed 42 females as for the presentation of the vaginal occlusive membrane. Once the membranes ruptured spontaneously, a swab was collected to study vaginal cytology. Membrane rupture was observed in 39 females; six females showed membrane rupture with less than 21 days of age (17 to 21 days). Twenty-three females were characterized as being in estrus due to cytology showing a prevalence of anucleated superficial cells. One of these females was younger than 21 days old. The opening of the vaginal occlusive membrane took place most frequently in intervals between 17 and 18 days, and the membrane remained open between one and three consecutive days. It was possible to follow three cycles of membrane opening on six females. The present study showed the need to adapt handling guidelines for C. porcellus kept in research animal facilities. The early age of puberty imposes the need of separate the female daughters from their fathers at 16 days old.

Correction: Tissue expression of antigens of ABH blood groups in species of New World Monkeys (Aotus infulatus, Callithrix jacchus, Sapajus apella and Saimiri sciureus).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241487.].

Anatomopathological lesions of infection caused by Platynosomum illiciens (Braun, 1901) in Neotropical primates kept in captivity.

This study described the hepatobiliary anatomopathological lesions associated with trematode Platynosomum illiciens parasitism in Neotropical primates kept in captivity. In the evaluated organs, we observed portal fibrosis, biliary epithelial hyperplasia, and inflammatory reaction with a predominance of lymphocytes and plasmocytes, and in some cases infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils.

Protocol for collection and separation of bone marrow mononuclear cells in chlorocebus aethiops / Protocolo para colheita e isolamento de células mononucleares de medula óssea em chlorocebus aethiops

Chlorocebus aethiops is a species of non-human primate frequently used in biomedical research. Some research involves this species as an experimental model for various diseases and possible treatment with stem cells. The bone marrow is one of the main sources of these cells and provides easy access. The aim of this study was to standardize the protocol of collection and separation of bone marrow in C. aethiops. Ten animals were submitted to puncture of bone marrow with access to the iliac crest and cell separation by density gradient. The bone marrow of C. aethiops had an average of 97% viability. From the results achieved, we can conclude that C. aethiops is an excellent model to obtain and isolate mononuclear cells from bone marrow, fostering several studies in the field of cell therapy.

Chlorocebus aethiops é uma espécie de primata não humano frequentemente utilizados em pesquisa biomédica. Algumas pesquisas envolve esta espécie como modelo experimental para várias doenças e possível tratamento com células-tronco. A medula óssea é uma das principais fontes destas células e proporciona fácil acesso. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de padronizar o protocolo de coleta e separação de medula óssea em C. aethiops. Dez animais foram submetidos a punção de medula óssea com acesso à crista ilíaca e separação de células por gradiente de densidade. A medula óssea de C. aethiops tinha uma média de 97% de viabilidade. A partir dos resultados obtidos, podemos concluir que C. aethiops é um excelente modelo para obter e isolar células mononucleares da medula óssea, promovendo vários estudos no campo da terapia celular.

Hepatic capillariasis in two captive Callithrix penicillata / Capilariose hepática em dois Callithrix penicillata de cativeiro

This study aimed to describe the occurrence of hepatic capillariasis in two non-human primates of the species Callithrix penicillata that were kept in captivity. Case 1 was in a young female, whose liver presented pale coloring, softening due to autolysis and several noticeably whitish areas. Case 2 was in a male of unknown age, whose liver was slightly pale and brownish. Histological analysis on the samples revealed extensive interstitial fibrosis with hemosiderotic areas. Adult nematodes of Capillaria hepatica and numerous eggs, morphologically characterized by their non-embryonic ellipsoid shape, with bipolar plugs that did not protrude from the shell, thick and birefringent, with a porous layer, thus giving a striated appearance to the eggs. Some cystic formations presented nematode eggs surrounded by numerous foreign-body giant cells. The literature consulted made little reference to reports of Capillaria hepatica in non-human primates. However, similar infections have been extensively studied in domestic rodents.(AU)

O presente trabalho relata a ocorrência de dois casos de capilariose hepática em primatas não-humanos da espécie Callithrix penicilatta mantidos em cativeiro. O caso 1 era uma fêmea jovem, que exibiu fígado de cor pálida, suavizada devido a autólise e algumas áreas múltiplas visivelmente esbranquiçadas. O caso 2 foi registrado em um macho adulto, de idade desconhecida, com fígado levemente pálido e acastanhado. A análise histológica das amostras revelou extensa fibrose intersticial com áreas de hemossiderose, exemplares de Capillaria hepatica adultos e numerosos ovos morfologicamente caracterizados pela sua forma elipsóide, não-embrionárias, com tampões bipolares que se sobressaem da casca, que é espessa, birrefringente e com uma camada porosa, dando uma aparência estriada ao ovo. Algumas formações císticas continham ovos do nematóide cercados por numerosas células gigantes do tipo corpo estranho. A literatura consultada possui poucas referências acerca da presença de Capillaria hepatica em primatas não-humanos. No entanto, infecções semelhantes são bem estudadas em roedores domésticos.(AU)

Aggressive keloid-mimicking tumor in Melanosuchus niger in captivity / Queloide agressivo imitando tumor em Melanosuchus niger em cativeiro

The objective of this note is to describe a case of exuberant scarring formation, with keloid characteristics and pseudo-tumoral configuration in a male Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), with an estimated age of 60 years, belonging to the Zoobotanical Park at the Emílio Goeldi Museum, located in Belém, Pará, Brazil. The alteration appeared on the right posterior limb involving two distal phalanges of the lateral digit and measured 12.4cm at the greatest width. The keloid tissue was surgically removed and samples were processed and analyzed histopathologically, revealing growth made up of fibrous connective tissue with the habitual morphology, which was structurally mature in the more central areas.

O objetivo do presente relato é descrever um caso de formação cicatricial exuberante, característica de queloide e configuração pseudo-tumoral em um jacaré-açu (Melanosuchus niger), macho, com idade estimada de 60 anos, pertencente ao Parque Zoobotânico do Museu Emílio Goeldi, situado em Belém, Pará, Brasil. A alteração manifestou-se no membro posterior direito, envolvendo as duas falanges distais do dedo lateral e mediu 12,4cm na maior largura. A neoformação foi removida cirurgicamente e amostras foram processadas e analisadas por histopatologia, que revelou crescimento constituído por tecido conjuntivo fibroso de morfologia habitual, estando estruturalmente maduro nas áreas mais centrais.

Ocorrência de hepatites virais, helmintíases e protozooses em primatas neotropicais procedentes de criação domiciliar: afecções de transmissão fecal-oral com potencial zoonótico / Viral hepatitis, helminthiasis and protozoan disease in neotropical primates raised in captivity: potentially zoonotic affections with fecal-oral transmission

A criação de primatas não humanos em domicilio não é permitida pela legislação ambiental. Entretanto, na Região Amazônica é comum encontrar primatas não humanos convivendo em ambientes familiares. Essa interface favorece a transmissão de doenças de caráter zoonótico. Esta pesquisa se propôs avaliara presença de alguns agentes zoonóticos em primatas não humanos de criação domiciliar. Foram investigados animais doados ou apreendidos pelo Batalhão de Policiamento Ambiental e/ou Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis no Estado do Pará e encaminhados ao Centro Nacional de Primatas. Durante a quarentena, 25 animais foram submetidos a colheitas de sangue para a obtenção de soro e pesquisa de anticorpos para hepatites virais (tipos A, B e E), realizada no Instituto Evandro Chagas. A análise parasitológica fecal foi realizada em 29 animais, sendo utilizados os métodos de Willis, Hoffman e exame direto. Nenhum dos animais apresentou anticorpos positivos para anti-HBV e anti-HEV; entretanto, 12 por cento dos animais apresentaram positividade para anticorpos anti-HAV totais. Os estudos parasitológicos demonstraram que 48,2 por cento apresentavam algum tipo de parasita com potencial zoonótico, ocorrendo Strongyloides stercoralis em 17,2 por cento casos, sendo que em 3,4 por cento dos casos este parasita estava associado à Giardia lamblia...

Brazilian environmental legislation does not allow non-human primates to be raised in captivity. However, this remains a common practice in the Amazon region, and the close proximity of animals and humans facilitates the transmission of zoonotic diseases. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the presence of zoonotic agents in household-raised non-human primates. We analyzed animals donated or apprehended by Brazil's Environmental Police Battalion and/or the Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis in Pará State, Brazil, and sent to the Centro Nacional de Primatas. Blood samples taken from 25 animals during the quarantine period were subjected to serum and antibody tests for viral hepatitis (types A, B and E) at the Instituto Evandro Chagas. Parasitological analysis of fecal material was performed on 29 animals using direct examination and the Willis and Hoffman methods. None of the animals tested positive for anti-hepatitis B or anti-hepatitis E virus antibodies, but 12 per cent were positive for total anti-hepatitis A antibodies. In addition, parasitological studies showed that 48.2 per cent of the animals had parasites with zoonotic potential. Strongyloides stercoralis was observed in 17.2 per cent, but this parasite was associated with Giardia lamblia in only 3.4 per cent of the samples. Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica were detected in 3.4 per cent and 10.3 per cent of the samples, respectively. All of the pathogens described in this study are transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, we concluded that non-human primates should not be raised in captivity, and this practice should be addressed as an important public health concern.