Rickets associated with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus, 1758): Case report

Abstract

Human beings, monkeys from the Old and New World, make up the mammals belonging to the Primate Order, the latter being exclusive to the American continent and of arboreal habits. With the advances in research in the areas of medicine and biomedicine, the demand for raising primates in captivity has increased significantly, so the well-being of non-human primates has become the target of studies by the scientific community. The skeleton is made up of bones and their joints. It is divided into two portions: the axial portion, formed by the skull, vertebrae, ribs and sternum, and the appendicular portion, formed by the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The cells responsible for the formation and integration of these matrices are osteoblasts. However, when they are coated by the matrices, they are called osteocytes, which are responsible for maintaining healthy bone tissue and ensuring isocalcemia (calcium balance). Metabolic bone diseases result from the imbalance between some of these elements and can affect human and non-human primates, as well as other species such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and, of course, other mammals. If calcium levels become unbalanced, the body can develop osteodystrophies over time, that is, lesions in bone tissue caused by an exacerbated increase in bone resorption and consequent weakening of the skeleton. The present case report aims to describe a condition of osteodystrophy secondary to failure in nutritional management in a female Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus, 1758).