Ophthalmic diseases and disorders in free-ranging rhesus macaque (Macacamulatta) of Shivalik hill area of Himachal Pradesh, Northern India.

Abstract

The studies on ophthalmic diseases and disorders in a population of rhesus macaques, in particular with free-ranging macaques, are limited mainly by the difficulty in capturing animals and obtaining samples. From October 2011 to 2013, prevalence of various ophthalmic affections was recorded and analyzed on the basis of sex, age-group, and disease condition both in urban and peri-urban free-ranging rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from various locations in Shivalik hill areas of Himachal Pradesh in northern India, as a part of clinical health examination. Ophthalmic diseases were more prevalent in macaques captured from urban settings than those from peri-urban, and difference between two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). Further classification of ophthalmic diseases revealed that traumatic injuries, corneal opacity, and cataract were significantly higher in urban than those in peri-urban macaque (P<0.01). Similarly, the ophthalmic disorders among different age-groups were also found statistically significant (P<0.01). The effect of sex on ophthalmic disorders was not found significant. Overviewing these results, disturbances in environment, close proximity to humans, and increasing age may lead to ophthalmic occurrences in these free-range macaques.