Occurrence of Free-Living Amoebae in Non-Human Primate Gut.

The gut microbiome reflects health and predicts possible disease in hosts. A holistic view of this community is needed, focusing on identifying species and dissecting how species interact with their host and each other, regardless of whether their presence is beneficial, inconsequential, or detrimental. The distribution of gut-associated eukaryotes within and across non-human primates is likely driven by host behavior and ecology.

Staphylococcus nasal colonization in three species of non-human primates.

Bacterial nasal colonization is common in many mammals and Staphylococcus represents the main pathogen isolated. Staphylococcus nasal carriage in humans constitutes a risk factor for Staphylococcus infections pointing out the need for animal experimentation for nasal colonization studies, especially for vaccine development. A limitation in addressing this hypothesis has been a lack of appropriate animal model.

Early puberty in short-haired Guinea pigs kept in laboratory animal facilities.

Lab animals, such as Guinea pigs (), are crucial for scientific development, as they play an important role in the development and quality control chain of vaccines and drugs distributed by the Brazilian public health system. Investigating their biological and physiological parameters is fundamental to raise and keep these animals, so the handling of the facilities that hold them can be updated whenever new information comes up, with the well-being of the animals and alignment with the 3 Rs in mind. In the search for understanding reproductive aspects of Guinea pigs, the present study had the main goal of studying puberty by means of estrous cycle analysis in short-haired Guinea pigs.

Low Vector Competence for Zika Virus from Viremic Rhesus Macaques.

Despite worldwide efforts to understand the transmission dynamics of Zika virus (ZIKV), scanty evaluation has been made on the vector competence of fed directly on viremic human and non-human primates (NHPs). We blood-fed from two districts in Rio de Janeiro on six ZIKV infected pregnant rhesus macaques at several time points, half of which were treated with Sofosbuvir (SOF). Mosquitoes were analyzed for vector competence after 3, 7 and 14 days of incubation.

Sofosbuvir shows a protective effect against vertical transmission of Zika virus and the associated congenital syndrome in rhesus monkeys.

The outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in Brazil, 2015-2016, were associated with severe congenital malformations. Our translational study aimed to test the efficacy of the antiviral agent sofosbuvir (SOF) against vertical transmission of ZIKV and the associated congenital syndrome (CZS), using a rhesus monkey model. Eight pregnant macaques were successfully infected during the organogenesis phase with a Brazilian ZIKV strain; five of them received SOF from two to fifteen days post-infection.

Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and assay validation: Stress response evaluation in captive brown howler monkeys (Alouatta clamitans).

Background: The advent of non-invasive methods provides a powerful alternative to stress studies as the use of stressful handling techniques is no longer needed. However, many factors influence hormone metabolism such as sex, diet, and metabolic rate. Thus, validation should be species- and matrix-specific.

Detection of mycobacterial infection in non-human primates using the Xpert MTB/RIF molecular assay.

Tuberculosis is a major public health concern, and diagnostic strategies applied to animal populations are scarce. As part of ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis dissemination at our animal facility, two non-human primates (NHP, Saimiri sciureus) presenting cutaneous lesions were examined for mycobacterial infection. Both animals tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a molecular assay (IS6110 PCR).

Evaluation of the fecal steroid concentrations in Alouatta belzebul (Primates, Atelidae) in the National Forest of Tapirape-Aquiri in Pará, Brazil.

Background: The studies on fecal steroid metabolites published with free-living primates are limited mainly by the difficulty in obtaining samples.

Methods: A radioimmunoassay was used to measure the fecal steroid concentrations in Alouatta belzebul in the National Forest of Tapirape-Aquiri in Brazil.

Results And Conclusions: Androgens were significantly higher for the adult males from the Area of Influence (AI-I group) when compared to those from the Control Area (CA group) (P < 0.

Effect of age and number of parturitions on uterine and ovarian variables in owl monkeys.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the uterine and ovarian volumes of owl monkeys in different age groups with different numbers of live births and to analyze the interaction between both.

Methods: We performed pelvic ultrasound exams to compare the uterine measurements with weight, age (infant, juvenile, subadult, young adults, and adults) and the number of live births (nulliparous, primiparous, and multiparous) and to compare the ovarian measurements with weight and age.

Results And Conclusions: The uterine volume (UV) was directly proportional to the number of parturitions, which was the most important factor in the uterine growth of adult females (P < 0.

Hematological, hepatic, and renal evaluation in Aotus azarai infulatus.

Background: Knowing the physiological ranges of certain hematological and biochemical parameters is necessary for understanding the alterations caused by pathogenic agents and establishing differences between states of health and disease. Hematological evaluations and clinical chemistry were performed on livers and kidneys from owl monkeys with different sexes and age ranges.

Methods: Forty-one healthy owl monkeys were evaluated (26 males and 15 females) in three different age groups (AG1=3months to 1 year old; AG2=2-6years old; AG3=over 7years old).

Variation in clitoral length in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Clitoromegaly in the neonatal period is an important morphologic sign that can be useful for sexual determination in aberrant cases. In rhesus monkeys, differentiation of the external genitalia occurs early during gestation (at 55 to 60 d) and is complete by approximately 80 d. Most of the critical steps in genital differentiation in primates occur prenatally.

Agnathia and associated malformations in a male rhesus monkey.

Background: Agnathia is a rare malformation characterized by the absence of the mandible.

Methods: A male rhesus monkey with malformations was found dead and studied by internal examination, radiographs and histopathology.

Results: A case of a rare first branchial arch anomaly with agenesis of the mandible and tongue is presented.