Tatiana Kugelmeier

Hematological, hepatic, and renal evaluation in Aotus azarai infulatus

Background  Knowing the physiological ranges of certain hematological and biochemical parameters is necessary for understanding the alterations caused by pathogenic agents and establishing differences between states of health and disease. Hematological evaluations and clinical chemistry were performed on livers and kidneys from owl monkeys with different sexes and age ranges.

Effect of age and number of parturitions on uterine and ovarian variables in owl monkeys

Background  We aimed to evaluate the uterine and ovarian volumes of owl monkeys in different age groups with different numbers of live births and to analyze the interaction between both.

Evaluation of the fecal steroid concentrations in Alouatta belzebul (Primates, Atelidae) in the National Forest of Tapirape-Aquiri in Pará, Brazil

The studies on fecal steroid metabolites published with free‐living primates are limited mainly by the difficulty in obtaining samples.

Renal Evaluation of Aotus azarai infulatus by Ultrasonography and Serum Chemistry Profile

This study aimed to characterize anatomical and biochemical properties of owl monkey kidneys in order to provide normal reference values. Sixty‐nine Aotus azarai infulatus (45 males and 24 females) were divided into four different age groups (AG1: 3 months–1 year; AG2: 2–3 years; AG3: 4–6 years; and AG4: over 7 years old). The monkeys were evaluated with a serum chemistry profile, focusing on serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and with ultrasound. Mean body mass differed among the age groups. This significance was attributed to AG1 body mass being significantly lower than in AG2 and that in both AG2 and AG3 being significantly lower than in the two older age groups (AG3 and AG4). SCr and BUNconcentrations differed significantly between the sexes and SCr level correlated positively with age. In contrast, renal measurements did not differ between males and females. Left and right renal volumes did not differ significantly within age groups, or among AG2, AG3, and AG4. Renal volumes in AG1, however, while not differing from those in AG2, did differ significantly from those in AG3 and AG4. In conclusion, this study provides ultrasonographic reference values for the morphology the kidneys in A. a. infulatus. Evidence is also provided that SCr and BUNlevels in owl monkeys are influenced by the sex and age of the individual, factors that should be considered when interpreting test results. Am. J. Primatol. 74:482‐490, 2012.

Agnathia and associated malformations in a male rhesus monkey

Background  Agnathia is a rare malformation characterized by the absence of the mandible.

Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and assay validation: Stress response evaluation in captive brown howler monkeys (Alouatta clamitans)

The advent of non‐invasive methods provides a powerful alternative to stress studies as the use of stressful handling techniques is no longer needed. However, many factors influence hormone metabolism such as sex, diet, and metabolic rate. Thus, validation should be species‐ and matrix‐specific.

Detection of mycobacterial infection in non-human primates using the Xpert MTB/RIF molecular assay

Tuberculosis is a major public health concern, and diagnostic strategies applied to animal populations are scarce. As part of ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis dissemination at our animal facility, two non-human primates (NHP, Saimiri sciureus) presenting cutaneous lesions were examined for mycobacterial infection. Both animals tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a molecular assay (IS6110 PCR). Animals were euthanized and several samples were tested for M. tuberculosis using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Many samples were positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and some produced mycobacterial growth. Oral swabs from cage mates were then tested with Xpert MTB/RIF, and the majority tested positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and produced growth in culture. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial infection in NHP. Additionally, our data shows that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be useful as a screening tool for tuberculosis infection in NHP.