Captive Monkeys Research Articles

Simian hepatitis A virus derived from a captive rhesus monkey in India is similar to the strain isolated from wild African green monkeys in Kenya

A simian hepatitis A virus (HAV) was identified retrospectively in a faecal sample from a rhesus monkey in India, inoculated in 1995 with a faecal suspension from a suspected patient of non-A to E hepatitis. The monkey was in captivity for 2 years in one of the experimental primate facilities in western India before being moved to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for experimentation. Phylogenetic analysis based on a partial sequence of the 5' noncoding region placed this virus in genotype V, the only other member being the AGM-27 strain recovered in 1986 from African green monkeys in Kenya. The source of infection of the monkey remains unclear. The full genome was amplified in nine fragments and sequenced. The genome of the Indian simian HAV (IND-SHAV) is 7425 nucleotides long including the poly-A tail of 14 nucleotides at the 3' end. At the nucleotide and amino acid levels, IND-SHAV was 99.8 and 100% identical with AGM27, respectively.

Captive cotton‐top tamarins' (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) use of landmarks to localize hidden food items

Seventeen captive cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) were individually tested on their use of spatial relationships between landmarks to locate multiple hidden food items. In two experiments, the tamarins were presented with a spatial-foraging task in which positions of hidden food rewards were fixed in relation to an array of visual cues. In Experiment 1, the cues+hidden food configuration was rotated 90 degrees and the tamarins were successful in locating the food items significantly above chance levels (P<0.01). In Experiment 2 the cues+hidden food configuration was translated (up, down or sideways) from the previously learned configuration, and the monkeys successfully localized the hidden food items (P<0.001). Results indicate that the tamarins relied on the spatial relationship between the multiple landmarks to locate hidden food items rather than on an associative or beacon strategy. The results of these experiments support the contention that when contextually appropriate these captive New World monkeys have the capacity to rely on the spatial relationship or positions of several cues as an array to localize points in their environment.

Spontaneous Yersiniosis Due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Serotype 7 in a Squirrel Monkey

A captive male Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) of less than 1 year of age died following diarrhea and debilitation on the day of death. At necropsy, necrotizing enteritis accompanied with enlarged Peyer's patches, solitary lymphatic follicles and mesenteric lymph nodes, and multiple yellowish-white nodules in the spleen and liver were found. Histopathologically, these lesions were necrotizing inflammation containing Gram-negative bacilli. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 7 was isolated from the spleen and liver. The virF gene, which is an essential virulent plasimid (pYV) in pathogenic Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates, and the ypmA gene, which is a superantigenic toxin, were detected in the isolates. This is the first report of a fatal case of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 7 infection in the world.

Informative breath: Olfactory cues sought during social foraging among old world monkeys (Mandrillus sphinx, M. Leucophaeus, and Papio anubis).

Sociality provides a unique opportunity for animals to acquire information and learn from others. Especially during foraging, where trial-and-error food selection might be fatal, conspecifics could act as valuable sources of information. During a six-year study across captive, semifree ranging, and wild Old World monkeys, I investigated whether individuals garnered olfactory-based information from their group mates that could guide their feeding decisions. Each of three study species [mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), drills (M. leucophaeus), and olive baboons (Papio anubis)] performed a prominent muzzle-muzzle behavior, potentially enabling individuals to smell others' mouths and determine via olfaction what foods their conspecifics had chosen. This muzzle-muzzle behavior (1) was preferentially directed by naïve, younger individuals toward more experienced, older individuals, (2) occurred specifically while recipients were chewing and hence emitting the most potent chemical cues, (3) was typically followed by the actor consuming the very same food type the recipient had been eating, (4) was elicited most often in response to experiments involving novel foods, and (5) occurred less frequently as initially novel foods became more familiar. In contrast to this evidence for information acquisition, there was little support for previous proposals suggesting that muzzle-muzzle functions as a social display. Instead, the omnivorous diets and intensely social lifestyles of mandrills, drills, and baboons, may have each favored a convergent form of information acquisition: seeking out the breath of knowledgeable conspecifics to help decide what foods are safe to eat.

The Time Frame of Partner Choice in the Grooming Reciprocation ofCebus apella

AbstractRecent theoretical and experimental studies argued that reciprocity is constrained by the cognitive limitations of most animals and that, when reciprocation occurs, it should necessarily be short term. In this study, we examined the time frame of partner choice in the reciprocal grooming of captive female tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Female capuchins groomed preferentially those individuals that overall groomed them most. Tufted capuchins did sometimes reciprocate grooming immediately. We quantified the time course and probability of immediate reciprocation, and excluded from the analysis cases of immediate reciprocation. We then showed that, even excluding immediate reciprocation, female capuchins still preferred to groom those individuals that groom them most. Our results show that partner choice is not necessarily based on immediate reciprocation and suggest that capuchins are able to reciprocate over longer time frames. These findings argue against the hypothesis that long‐term reciprocation is absent in species lacking sophisticated cognitive abilities. We suggest that reciprocal altruism over long time frames relies on a system of emotional bookkeeping.

Reproductive parameters of a captive colony of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) from 1984 to 2006

This paper presents the results of a demographic analysis of 22 years of data recorded on a colony of tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) in captivity at the CNR Primate Centre (Rome, Italy). Information is provided on reproduction, sex ratio, inter-birth interval (IBI), seasonality, and body weight. From 1984 to 2006, 46 live births were recorded. There were births in almost all months of the year, but a higher frequency was observed during spring and summer (71.1%). The sex ratio was 1:1 M:F for newborns and 1:1.06 M:F for surviving offspring. At birth, infants' average weight was 238.13 +/- 37.51 g, i.e. 250 +/- 56.79 g for males and 231 +/- 26.08 g for females. Age at first birth for females ranged from 4.9 to 7 years (n = 9), while males achieved first paternity between the ages of 5 and 9.2 years (n = 6). Only one pair of twins was recorded during this period. For females, the mean IBI was 17.88 +/- 1.84 months, when they reared infants, and 12.70 +/- 1.73 months, when they did not rear offspring. Infant mortality within the first 2 months was 28.3%.

Nota sobre infecção por Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp. em bugios-ruivos, Alouatta clamitans Cabrera, 1940 (Primates: Atelidae) mantidos em cativeiro

Amostras de fezes de bugios-ruivos cativos foram investigadas quanto a presença de Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp. O padrão de sensibilidade a antibióticos foi testado. Este é o primeiro relato de infecção assintomática por Salmonella sp. nesta espécie. Não foi detectada infecção por Shigella sp. Destaca-se a importância de investigação em animais submetidos a translocação ou a reintrodução e a necessidade de inquéritos periódicos em populações cativas a fim de se evitar agravos ocupacionais.

Bertielose em primata não humano brasileiro: infecção natural em Alouatta guariba clamitans (Cabrera, 1940) (Primates: Atelidae) do estado de Santa Catarina – Brasil

The first case of parasitism by Bertiella mucronata (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) in Brazilian non-human primates, Alouatta guariba clamitans (Cabrera 1940) (Primates: Atelidae), from Santa Catarina State, is here reported. Free-ranging monkeys from three different cities of the Itajaí-Açu River Valley region were found to be infected. Prevalence and daily elimination of proglottids in 28 captive howler monkeys are described. We warn about the possibility of human bertiellosis in this region. This information should be utilized in sanitary evaluations of A. clamitans specimes submitted to translocation or reintroduction programs.

Valvular Endocarditis In A Captive Monkey In Ibadan, Nigeria: A Case Report

Primates are present in large number in the game reserves and national parks throughout Nigeria and other parts of the world (Ayodele, 1988). Out of these primates, monkeys and baboons seem to be most abundant. The interrelationship between these primates and humans, as relates to disease similarity is of great importance (Tribe and Bassett, 1978). Congestive heart failure which can be due to mural or valvular endocarditis has been found to be a product of a septicaemic condition (Robinson and Maxie, 1985). There have been various reports of the pathology of heart related conditions in primates in different parts of the world (Isoun et al., 1972; McConnell et al., 1974; Levin and Carey, 1986 and Cantrell et al., 1986). However, there is dearth of information on heart related condition in Nigeria (Chineme et al., 1978); hence this report presents a case of valvular endocarditis associated with hepatic necrosis and hemorrhagic pneumonia in a captive monkey Cercocebus torquatus torgilatus) at the University of Ibadan Zoological garden of the University of Ibadan. Keywords: Monkey, Endocarditis, Ibadan, NigeriaNigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (3) 2007 pp. 49-52

Using rodents for modeling Self-Injurious Behaviour

Materials and methods As it's difficult to study abnormal psychological behaviours in humans because of different or unknown backgrounds, it's not uncommon to have animal models to study disorders in a controlled situation. For SIB the most models used are rodents (rats and mice) though there's been reports of SIB in captive rhesus monkeys. Drugs used to induce this behaviour in rodents are pemoline [1], amphetamine, caffeine [2] & clonidine [3].

Serum chemistry concentrations of captive woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)

Woolly monkeys (Lagothrix sp.) are threatened species and numerous zoos have failed to sustain successful populations. The most common causes of death in captive woolly monkeys are related to pregnancy and hypertension. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate serum concentrations of a large number of captive woolly monkeys to establish baseline means and compare these concentrations with their closest related species to determine potential abnormalities. Serum analyses from 30 woolly monkeys housed at two institutions (Apenheul, The Netherlands and The Louisville Zoo, KY, USA) over 12 yr were collected. The statistical model included gender, age group (young, 0-4 yr of age; middle, 5-9 yr; and old, 10+ yr), and zoological institution. All panel result means were similar to previously reported concentrations for howler (Alouatta sp.) and spider monkeys (Ateles sp.) with the possible exception of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase being higher, whereas creatinine and phosphorus were lower. The serum glucose mean of 6.7 mmol/L is above the baseline range for humans and spider monkeys. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase, and sodium (Na) were higher in females and magnesium (Mg) was higher in males (P<0.05). ALP, Mg, and phosphorus were highest (P<0.05) and calcium and sodium tended to be highest (P<0.10) in the oldest animals. Ferritin tended to be highest (P<0.10) in the oldest animals. Albumin, ALP, chloride, Na, and total bilirubin were higher for Zoo A, whereas gamma-glutamyl-transferase, glucose, and lactate dehydrogenase were lower for Zoo A (P<0.05). Areas of potential woolly monkey health risk were noted and discussed. Future studies are needed to determine free-ranging serum concentrations to elucidate parameters that contain aberrant concentrations and decrease health status.

Relationship between age and activity varies by sex in titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus)

Motor activity increases during development and typically peaks before reproductive maturity. Males may become more active than do females, and this sex difference in activity may be a mechanism contributing to sex-biased dispersal. The generality of the link between sex differences in activity and sex differences in dispersal would be strengthened with evidence of greater female, as compared to male, activity during development in a species with a female bias in dispersal. Titi monkeys are a good model for such an investigation because subadult females leave their natal group at an earlier age than do subadult males. This study examines whether developing female titi monkeys become more active with age than do developing male titi monkeys. Locomotor activity of 13 female and 8 male captive titi monkeys was measured as they matured from initial ambulatory independence (6 months of age) to reproductive maturity (24 months). Increased activity of females was associated most strongly with increasing age. Increased activity of males, however, was associated most strongly with repeated testing. Compared to maturing males, greater activity of maturing females may underlie the earlier dispersal of female titi monkeys that has been reported.

Dads do not pay for sex but do buy the milk: food sharing and reproduction in owl monkeys ( Aotus spp.)

Sharing food is costly, and animals rarely share food with unrelated individuals. Males may share food with females when females are fertile or when female nutrition will affect offspring. Such benefits are known for insects and birds, but not for mammals. This study examined the effect of female reproductive state (ovarian cycling, pregnancy, lactation) on food sharing between mates in monogamous owl monkeys, Aotus spp. Male–female pairs of captive owl monkeys at the DuMond Conservancy (Miami, FL, U.S.A.) were regularly observed feeding from October 2003 to November 2004. To determine the onset and duration of pregnancy, urine was collected from females and analysed for the progesterone metabolite pregnanediol-3α glucuronide using enzyme immunoassay. Food transfers from females to males did not vary across reproductive state, and males did not transfer food most often to females when females could potentially become pregnant. Conversely, females most often begged for food when they were lactating, and males most often transferred food to females when their mates were lactating. Compared to males of polygamous species, male owl monkeys are relatively certain of paternity. In addition to providing infant care directly, male owl monkeys would benefit from ensuring that their mates receive adequate nutrition because it indirectly provides nutrition for offspring by enhancing the quantity and/or quality of the mates' milk.

Hematological and plasma biochemical values for captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

Hematological and blood biochemical parameters are of great importance in medical and veterinary practice. Unfortunately, normal reference range intervals for hematological and serum biochemical values in the tufted capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) have seldom been reported. The study reported here is based on data from blood samples collected from 44 monkeys over an 8-year period. Male and female data are displayed separately within two age categories: juveniles and adults, and effects for sex and age are examined. Significant differences between males and females are found for erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and α(1) globulin. Significant differences between juveniles and adults are found for neutrophils, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus, glucose, total protein, serum iron, and some serum protein parameters and albumin/globulin ratio. These values are compared with values we previously reported, and their importance in care and well-being of captive tufted capuchin monkeys is discussed.

An experimental analysis of ingestion rates in an omnivorous species

Food intake is difficult to estimate under natural conditions. We investigated ingestion rates of 14 different food types in 26 captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). The procedure consisted in weighing a piece of food and using a two alternative choice tests to present food to the subject, alone in its cage. We recorded the food chosen and the time it took the subject to consume the food entirely. Consumption time was converted into ingestion rates (g/s) for each food type. Ingestion rates of food types significantly differed, and the difference was significantly higher among foods than among subjects. In particular, ingestion rates of the fruits were higher than those of human-processed food. Interestingly, food preferences were significantly related to energy intake rate, i.e., to the amount of energy ingested per unit of time, but not with ingestion rates or energy content alone. The energy acquired by eating different types of food cannot be calculated on the basis of the time spent eating unless a correction factor for each given food (or similar ones) is applied. Future controlled studies should provide field researchers with such corrections factors, possibly using foods collected in the wild.

Manipulation and Tool Use in captive Yellow-Breasted Capuchin Monkeys (&lt;em&gt;Cebus xanthosternos&lt;/em&gt;)

In this short report we test, at an individual level, the prediction that tool use abilities and manipulative tendencies should be correlated, derived from hypotheses in the literature which connect them at a cognitive and evolutionary level. We recorded manipulative events of six captive yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys and later compared these results to their performance in a tool using task. The frequency of time each animal was involved with manipulative events was not correlated to the number of tool-using events displayed by them, even when we analyzed the males only (the most frequent manipulators). This result goes against the idea that tool use in Cebus is a product of both manipulative propensities and tendency to use objects. Most likely, the evolution of tool use in Cebus was due to a complex combination of factors, belonging to various behavioral systems, not only to the foraging one.

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Helicobacter Species, “ Helicobacter macacae ,” from Rhesus Monkeys with and without Chronic Idiopathic Colitis

Chronic idiopathic colitis is a common clinical entity in young captive rhesus monkeys. Eight isolates, cultured from five monkeys in colony 1 with endemic diarrhea and three from colony 2 without diarrhea, were grown under microaerobic conditions on selective agar and were classified by full 16S rRNA sequence, biochemical, and phenotypic analysis as a novel helicobacter, "Helicobacter macacae" (proposed name). All eight strains of H. macacae had 99.5% identical 16S rRNA sequences.

Consistency of hand preference across low‐level and high‐level tasks in Capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)

Numerous studies investigating behavioral lateralization in capuchins have been published. Although some research groups have reported a population-level hand preference, other researchers have argued that capuchins do not show hand preference at the population level. As task complexity influences the expression of handedness in other primate species, the purpose of this study was to collect hand preference data across a variety of high- and low-level tasks to evaluate how task complexity influences the expression of hand preference in capuchins. We tested eleven captive brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) to determine if they show consistent hand preferences across multiple high- and low-level tasks. Capuchins were expected to display high intertask consistency across the high-level tasks but not the low-level tasks. Although most individuals showed significant hand preferences for each task, only two of the high-level tasks that involved similar hand motions were significantly positively correlated, indicating consistency of hand preference across these tasks only. None of the tasks elicited a group-level hand preference. High-level tasks elicited a greater strength of hand preference than did low-level tasks. No sex differences were found for the direction or strength of hand preference for any task. These results contribute to the growing database of primate laterality and provide additional evidence that capuchins do not display group-level hand preferences.

Within-group differences in captive Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana diana) behaviour

This case study examines the activity budgets of captive Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana diana) and discusses results in the context of what is known regarding captive and wild-type behaviour in this species and other guenons. The activities of a family group of Diana monkeys (two parents and four offspring) housed at Edinburgh Zoo, UK, were quantified using a 5-min interval scan sampling technique. The 5100 observation points collected showed that the subjects spent the largest proportion of their time observing (approx. 46%), followed by feeding (approx. 15%), playing (approx. 11%), mutual grooming (approx. 8%) and resting (approx. 7%). The daily activity budgets for each of the subjects were tallied and, at the end of the 10-day observation period, used to produce a data matrix consisting of nine behaviour variables per subject. Clear among-individual differences in activity were identified with canonical discriminant function analysis. This multivariate approach illustrated how the combined behaviours of the parent male were distinct from those of the rest of the family group. Within the remainder of the group, the three youngest offspring displayed similar activity budgets, whereas the overall behaviour of the eldest offspring (a female) was between that of its siblings and her mother.

Sex, age, and family differences in the chemical composition of owl monkey (Aotus nancymaae) subcaudal scent secretions

Numerous behavioral studies have shown that animals use olfactory cues as inbreeding avoidance or kin avoidance mechanisms, implying that scent is unique to families. However, few studies have analyzed the chemical profile of a scent and ascertained the messages that are conveyed in scent secretions. Owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) are socially monogamous primates that utilize scent when interacting with foreign conspecifics. This suggests there is a difference in the chemical composition of scent marks. We chemically analyzed sub-caudal gland samples from three families of captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). Samples were analyzed by capillary GC-MS and relative retention time and fragment pattern was compared with known standards. Gland samples were high in large plant-based shikikate metabolites and fatty ketones; alcohols, acids, and acetates were virtually absent. Gender, age, and family could be reliably classified using discriminant analysis (92.9, 100, and 100%, respectively). Female scent profiles were greater in concentration of aromatic plant metabolites, possibly the result of a different diet or physiological differences in female metabolism as compared to male. Offspring of adult age still living in their natal group showed a less complex chemical profile than their parents. Finally, each family had its own unique and complex chemical profile. The presence of family scent may play a role in mediating social interactions.