Comparison of fine-needle aspiration techniques.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been reported since 1912 beginning with the use of trocars and other specialized instruments that were impractical. Since then, FNA has proven to be a successful alternative technique to excisional biopsy for some assays despite a few limitations.

Methods: In this study, we compared four different techniques for FNA in rhesus macaques by evaluating total live cells recovered and cell viability using a standard 6 mL syringe and 1.

Clinical and Immunological Metrics During Pediatric Rhesus Macaque Development.

Clinical measurements commonly used to evaluate overall health of laboratory animals including complete blood count, serum chemistry, weight, and immunophenotyping, differ with respect to age, development, and environment. This report provides comprehensive clinical and immunological reference ranges for pediatric rhesus macaques over the first year of life. We collected and analyzed blood samples from 151 healthy rhesus macaques, aged 0-55 weeks, and compared mother-reared infants to two categories of nursery-reared infants; those on an active research protocol and those under derivation for the expanded specific-pathogen-free breeding colony.

Trypanosoma cruzi diversity in naturally infected nonhuman primates in Louisiana assessed by deep sequencing of the mini-exon gene.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi is a zoonotic pathogen of increasing relevance in the USA, with a growing number of autochthonous cases identified in recent years. The identification of parasite genotypes is key to understanding transmission cycles and their dynamics and consequently human infection. Natural T.

Hydrocephalus after Intrathecal Administration of Dextran to Rhesus Macaques ().

Dextrans have been used extensively as medical therapies and labeling agents in biomedical research to investigate the blood-brain barrier and CSF flow and absorption. Adverse effects from dextrans include anaphylactic reaction and dilation of the cerebral ventricles due to administration into the subarachnoid space. This retrospective study describes 51 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that received dextran intrathecally.

Fetal demise and failed antibody therapy during Zika virus infection of pregnant macaques.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection of pregnant women is associated with pathologic complications of fetal development. Here, we infect pregnant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with a minimally passaged ZIKV isolate from Rio de Janeiro, where a high rate of fetal development complications was observed. The infection of pregnant macaques with this virus results in maternal viremia, virus crossing into the amniotic fluid (AF), and in utero fetal deaths.

High incidence of rhesus enteric calicivirus infections and diarrhea in captive juvenile macaques: a likely association.

Background: The rhesus enteric caliciviruses (ReCVs) were recently described.

Methods: Prevalence of ReCV antibodies was tested in six species of captive non-human primates.

Results: High ReCV seroprevalence was revealed in rhesus and cynomolgus macaques.

Reproductive efficiency of captive Chinese- and Indian-origin rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) females.

Reproductive and survival records (n=2,913) from 313 Chinese-origin and 365 Indian-derived rhesus macaques at the Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) spanning three generations were studied. Least-squares analysis of variance procedures were used to compare reproductive and infant survival traits while proportional hazards regression procedures were used to study female age at death, number of infants born per female, and time from last birth to death. Chinese females were older at first parturition than Indian females because they were older when placed with males, but the two subspecies had similar first postpartum birth interval (1st PPBI) and lifetime postpartum birth interval (LPPBI).

Estimates of heritability for reproductive traits in captive rhesus macaque females.

Records from a colony of captive Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were used to estimate heritability for a number of reproductive traits. Records were based on a total of 7,816 births by 1,901 females from 1979 to 2007. Heritability was estimated with a linear animal model using a multiple trait derivative free REML set of programs.

Leptin, adiposity, and testosterone in captive male macaques.

Leptin is considered to act as a signal relating somatic energetic status to the reproductive system. However, the nature of that signal and its relationship with male reproductive function across nonhuman primate species are unclear. We suggest that species-specific differences in leptin physiology may be related to the degree of environmental variation and variation in the importance of energy stores for male reproduction.

Procedure for Successfully Introducing Cesarean-delivered Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Infants to Their Mothers.

To reduce the high rate of maternal rejection after cesarean delivery, we developed a protocol for introducing cesarean-delivered rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) infants to their mothers. The new protocol was used with 14 pregnant females and the resulting infants. After an early morning cesarean section, the mother was covered with a clean towel and returned to her cage.