Francisco García-Orduña

Hybridization in Large-Bodied New World Primates

Well-documented cases of natural hybridization among primates are not common. In New World primates, natural hybridization has been reported only for small-bodied species, but no genotypic data have ever been gathered that confirm these reports. Here we present genetic evidence of hybridization of two large-bodied species of neotropical primates that diverged ∼3 MYA. We used species-diagnostic mitochondrial and microsatellite loci and the Y chromosome Sry gene to determine the hybrid status of 36 individuals collected from an area of sympatry in Tabasco, Mexico. Thirteen individuals were hybrids. We show that hybridization and subsequent backcrosses are directionally biased and that the only likely cross between parental species produces fertile hybrid females, but fails to produce viable or fertile males. This system can be used as a model to study gene interchange between primate species that have not achieved complete reproductive isolation.

Relationships between Forest Fragments and Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) in Southern Veracruz, Mexico

Los Tuxtlas, a region located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, is the most northern geographic distribution of tropical rain forest in America (Dirzo and Miranda, 1991). In this region there are two species of primates, the howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana) and spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellorosus). Populations of both species have declined 90% (Estrada and Coates-Estrada, 1995). For this reason, these species are considered to be vulnerable according to NOM-059-ECOL-1994 and endangered according to Appendix I of CITES (Rylands et al., 1995). In Mexico, hunting or capturing these primates is illegal, however, the practice continues in the region (Rodriguez-Luna et al., 1987). Nevertheless, the main reason of reduction in distribution and abundance is the dramatic deforestation of tropical rain forest (Silva-Lopez et al., 1988; Estrada and Coates-Estrada, 1995). Loss in 1986 alone was estimated at 84% of the original forest (Dirzo and Garcia, 1992), but the percentage is even higher today. As a consequence, there is relatively intact habitat found only in the higher parts of the region’s volcanoes, while in the lower areas many Alouatta and Ateles groups have been forced to live in forest fragments (Garcia-Orduna, 1995). This is, unfortunately, the most common scenario for the monkeys, thus creating urgency for the development of management plans designed to conserve the primates not only in relatively intact reserves, but also in the disturbed landscape.

Montanoa frutescens and Montanoa grandiflora Extracts Reduce Anxiety-Like Behavior during the Metestrus-Diestrus Phase of the Ovarian Cycle in Wistar Rats

In previous studies, the anxiolytic-like effects of Montanoa tomentosa and Montanoa frutescens were reported in male rats, but the potential anxiolytic-like effects of Montanoa plants during the different phases of the ovarian cycle in rats remain to be explored. The anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous crude extracts of M. frutescens (25 and 50 mg/kg) and M. grandiflora (25 and 50 mg/kg) in the elevated plus maze were investigated in Wistar rats during the estrous cycle and compared with 2 mg/kg diazepam as a reference anxiolytic drug. To investigate any motor effect (i.e., hyperactivity, no changes, or hypoactivity) associated with the treatments, the rats were evaluated in the open field test. The M. frutescens (25 and 50 mg/kg) and M. grandiflora (50 mg/kg) extracts exerted anxiolytic-like effects during the metestrus-diestrus phase, similar to diazepam, without disrupting spontaneous motor activity. No significant effects of the extracts were detected in either behavioral test during the proestrus-estrus phase, whereas diazepam produced motor hypoactivity in the open field test. These results indicate that the M. frutescens and M. grandiflora extracts possess anxiolytic-like effects that depend on the ovarian cycle phase, supporting the Mexican ancient medicinal use of these plants to ameliorate anxiety disorders.

Blood parameters are little affected by time of sampling after the application of ketamine in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra).

Background  Ketamine hydrochloride is an anesthetic commonly utilized to obtain biological samples in various non‐human primates. Its application alters individual hematologic and biochemical values. The aim of this study was to analyze its effect on blood parameters of Alouatta pigra.

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana in free-ranging howler monkeys in southeastern Mexico.

Natural infection of wild mammals by protozoa parasites is quite common in nature. For Neotropical Primates different infections of parasites that are etiological agent of disease in human have been identified. In particular, infections by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp., have been reported for some New World primate species, but there are no reports of infection with these parasites in any primate species in Mexico. A serological study was conducted on two howler monkey species (Alouatta pigra and A. palliata) from the Mexican states of Campeche and Tabasco. A total of 55 serum samples (20 samples from A. pigra, 20 samples from A. palliata, and 15 samples from semifree ranging A. palliata of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz as negative controls) were analyzed for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. cruzi and Leishmania mexicana through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test, indirect immunofluorescence assay and Western blot. The overall prevalence of antibodies in howler monkeys was 17.5% for T. cruzi and 30% for L. mexicana. Our results also indicate that A. pigra is more susceptible to develop leishmaniasis than A. palliata. Finally, the finding of positive serology in these primates should be given serious consideration for public health, given the potential role of these primate species as wild reservoirs for these diseases and the increasing contact of monkeys with human populations due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Am. J. Primatol. 75:161‐169, 2013.

A wireless activity monitoring system for monkey behavioural study

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for monitoring of animal behaviours has been proposed. Preliminary results are presented here in order to demonstrate the potential of the system, which is aimed to investigate wild life of two species of monkeys in their natural habitat in the Mexican jungle. The novel platform comprises sensing nodes capable of measuring and recording the position, posture and activity level of animals. Each node is provided with wireless communication capabilities and the network topology includes a base station connected to a personal computer, in which the graphical user interface (GUI) and the proposed algorithm allow the visualization and processing of the collected data. Special care is giving to power-saving issues by applying power-aware techniques aimed to prolong the lifespan of the deployed sensors and devices. Results show high consistency and accuracy in the system response, with data being transmitted and recorded efficiently. Further improvements are envisaged and proposed for the intelligent monitoring system.

Sleep in the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi): A semi-restrictive, non-invasive, polysomnographic study

The normal sleep patterns of the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) have not been described yet. The objective of this study was to characterize the electrophysiological patterns, sleeping postures, and sleep‐wake cycle in semi‐restricted spider monkeys. Continuous 24‐hr polysomnographic (PSG) recordings, involving simultaneous recording of non‐invasive electroencephalographic (EEG), electro‐oculographic (EOG), and electromyographic (EMG) activities, were carried out in captive monkeys living in outdoor rainforest enclosures. Electrode placement was done according to the human international 10–20 system. Specific behaviors displayed by monkeys during the sleep‐wake cycles were correlated with the PSG recordings. The nycthemeral distribution of the sleep‐wake cycle was also calculated. The results show that electrophysiological N‐REM sleep patterns in spider monkeys are similar to those observed in other primates, including human beings. Furthermore, a vertical semi‐fetal posture was observed during N‐REM and REM sleep phases. The amount of nocturnal sleep was significantly higher than that of the diurnal period, showing that the spider monkey is a diurnal primate. An outstanding finding was the absence of muscular atonia during the spider monkeys REM sleep, which suggests that arboreal primates have developed a neuromuscular mechanism specialized for sleeping in a vertical posture. Am. J. Primatol. 77:200–210, 2015.

Hematological and biochemical blood values in wild populations of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) of Campeche, México

The clinical analyses of free‐ranging New World primates are extremely limited. The aim of this study was to obtain baseline data of blood chemistry and hematological values of free‐ranging Alouatta pigra.

Hematology and Serum Biochemistry in Wild Howler Monkeys

Hematological and blood biochemistry parameters are valuable tools for determining the health of free-ranging primate populations. However, baseline data on these parameters are needed to discriminate between healthy and unhealthy individuals. This type of information is currently limited for wild primate populations and especially for those that cannot be easily kept in captivity. This is particularly true for howler monkeys. The aim of this chapter is twofold. First, we review the hematological and serum biochemistry values of free-ranging individuals of three howler monkey species, Alouatta pigra and A. palliata from Mexico and A. macconnelli from French Guiana, in order to establish reference values for these species. We also obtain published data for two populations of black and gold howler monkeys (A. caraya). Second, we infer the health status of each population highlighting the benefits of blood screening as a tool to evaluate the responses of howler monkeys to the disturbance of their habitats. We found the following patterns: (a) females have higher concentration of white blood cell (WBC) count than males with the exception of A. caraya, (b) A. palliata and A. caraya have higher concentration of WBC count with respect to the other Alouatta species, (c) Mexican howler monkeys (A. palliata and A. pigra) have low total protein concentration with respect to other Alouatta species, and d) creatinine concentration is higher in males possibly due to their higher body mass. Overall, the present study will help to monitor blood parameters in threatened wild howler monkey populations as well as in captive individuals.