Overview and Approaches for Handling of Animal Models of Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis, a disease of global relevance, results from infection with the protozoan parasite, , which is transmitted to susceptible hosts through the bite of sand flies. Multiple forms of leishmaniasis may occur, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. Research with animal models remains an important approach to help define basic pathophysi- ologic processes associated with infection and disease.

Comparison of Indoor Air Quality between 2 Ventilation Strategies in a Facility Housing Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Adequate indoor-air quality (IAQ)--defined by the temperature, relative humidity, and the levels of carbon dioxide, small particles, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)--is crucial in laboratory animal facilities. The ventilation standards for controlling these parameters are not well defined. This study assessed the effect of 2 ventilation strategies on IAQ in 2 rooms housing rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Ampullary carcinoma in a group of aged rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Ampullary carcinoma was diagnosed in 6 rhesus macaques that ranged in age from 20 to 35 years. Signalment, premonitory signs of disease, and results of clinical biochemical and hematologic analyses varied among animals. Histologically, the neoplastic cells obliterated the ampulla, with regional spread to the duodenum in all 6 animals and to the pancreas in one animal.

Comparison of culture results from the feces and rectum of nonhuman primates with diarrhea.

The reliability of culture results from fecal samples versus direct culture of the rectum is compared in 10 cases of diarrhea in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Of the 10 comparisons, 7 were the same; of the 3 that were not, suboptimal growth of fecal cultures on primary media plates accounted for the difference. The results suggest that rectal cultures are optimum for diagnosing bacterial causes of diarrhea, but fecal sampling may still serve as a useful alternative under certain circumstances including disease surveillance, identifying etiologies in group-housed animals, and when weighing the physiologic and regulatory ramifications of restraint.

Cytologic assessment of the vaginal epithelium in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): a preliminary new approach to reproductive screening.

The application of vaginal cytology in defining reproductive events is a widely accepted and applied diagnostic tool in many species. Here we present a preliminary approach to recognizing a correlation between changes in vaginal epithelial cytology and circulating plasma progesterone in the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, such that vaginal cytology could be diagnostically appropriate for reproductive management. We assessed six captive-born adult female common marmosets for the duration of one complete estrus cycle.