VET 215 – Laboratory Animal Medicine: Primates

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering taxonomy, species, anatomy, behavior, husbandry, handling, diseases, and miscellaneous conditions of laboratory primates.

Prosimii

The most primitive order of primates; small- to medium-sized, squirrel-like species such as lemurs and tree shrews.

Anthropoidea

The ‘true’ primates (simians); includes lesser apes, great apes, humans, New World primates, and Old World primates.

Great Apes

Chimpanzee —Pan troglodytes

New World Primates (Platyrrhini)

Primates native to Central and South America; broad, flat noses, most with prehensile tails, 36 teeth, no cheek pouches or ischial callosities.

Old World Primates (Catarrhini) monkeys, macaques

Primates from Africa and Asia; narrow downward-facing nostrils, non-prehensile tails, cheek pouches and ischial callosities present, 32 teeth.

Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

A small New World primate commonly used in research, especially for atherosclerosis studies.

Owl Monkey (Aotus trivirgatus)

A nocturnal New World primate used in vision and malaria research.

Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

An Old World macaque widely used in biomedical research; model for endometriosis and has a 20–30 year life span.

Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Old World macaque frequently used in toxicology; also called the crab-eating macaque.

African Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops)

Old World primate used for vaccine production and viral studies; lacks sex skin.

Baboon (Papio spp.)

Large Old World primate often used in cardiovascular and surgical research models.

Quarantine (Primates)

Mandatory 60-day isolation for imported or transferred primates involving PE, TB testing, fecal exams, and radiographs.

Zoonosis

A disease naturally transmissible between animals and humans; many primate pathogens are zoonotic.

Allogrooming

Social grooming of one primate by another that reinforces hierarchy and social bonds.

Rhesus Temp

98.6-103.1F

Rhesus HR

120-180 bpm

Rhesus RR

35-50 bpm

Rhesus Life span

20 –30 yrs

Rhesus WT

6 –11 kg

Sex Skin

Hormone-responsive perineal skin in many Old World females that swells and/or reddens during the menstrual cycle.

pentadactyl

5 fingers 5 toes

Prehensile Tail

A tail capable of grasping objects; characteristic of many New World primates.

Ischial Callosities

Hard keratinized pads on the buttocks of Old World monkeys that aid in sitting.

Cheek Pouches

Expandable oral pouches for food storage found in many Old World monkeys but absent in New World species.

Herpesvirus simiae (B virus)

A common herpesvirus of macaques; causes fatal encephalomyelitis in humans via bites, scratches, or body fluids.

Measles (Rubeola) in Primates

Human paramyxovirus infection; OWPs highly susceptible, showing rash, ocular/nasal discharge, and blepharitis.

Simian Hemorrhagic Fever

Highly contagious filovirus disease, especially in macaques, causing fever, facial edema, and epistaxis; often fatal.

Quarantine

–All new arrivals

–~60 days

–Include PE

–TB test

–Body fluid and tissue sample analysis

–Fecal exam and cultures

–Radiographs (thorax and abdomen)

Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Chronic zoonotic respiratory disease of primates detected by eyelid ID testing; positive animals are euthanized.

Bacterial Diseases (TB)

•All primates in quarantine should receive TB test

–0.1 ml mammalian tuberculin injected ID into upper eyelid

–Test is read 24, 48, 72 hrs.

–Positive reaction = mild to very red reaction and edema, ulceration

•Some institutions require 5 negative tests

Herpesviruses

Herpesvirus hominis (simplex 1) marmosets, gibbons, owl monkeys

•Causes oral lesions (fever blisters) in humans

•Causes fatal infection, ulcerated MM, skin, conjunctiva or meningitis and encephalitis

Herpesvirus tamarinus owl monkeys, marmosets

•Reservoir hosts: squirrel, cebus, and spider monkeys

•Causes oral lesions (fever blisters) in humans

•Causes fatal infection, ulcerated MM, skin, conjunctiva or meningitis and encephalitis

Herpesvirus saimiri squirrel monkeys

•Infections rarely symptomatic

•Can cause malignant lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia in other species

Herpesvirus ateles spider monkeys

•Can cause malignant lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia in other species

Herpesvirus simiae (B virus) Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques

•Common in macaques, all should be considered carriers

•Clinical signs: oral lesions/ulcers

•Transmission: bites, scratches and contact with blood, urine, saliva

•Zoonotic – humans develop an often fatal encephalomyelitis

Simian hemorrhagic fever

•Caused by a filovirus related to Ebola virus

•Highly contagious and fatal especially in macaques

•Clinical signs: fever/dehydration, facial edema, cyanosis, epistaxis

Retroviruses

•Simian immunodeficiency viruses

•Transmission: direct or indirect contact with infected blood and body fluids

•Causes T-cell leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, etc.

•Poor prognosis

Shigellosis

Severe bacterial gastroenteritis (Shigella flexneri) with bloody mucoid diarrhea; transmitted via fecal-oral route.

Campylobacteriosis

Watery diarrhea and dehydration in OWPs caused by Campylobacter jejuni; treated with fluids and antibiotics.

Helicobacteriosis

Owp infection with Helicobacter pylori leading to gastric ulcers and occasional vomiting.

Entamoeba histolytica

Protozoal GI parasite causing watery or bloody diarrhea; transmitted fecal-orally.

Protein/Fat Needs (OWP vs NWP)

Old World primates require lower dietary protein and fat levels than New World primates.

Ketamine Hydrochloride

Common injectable anesthetic/chemical restraint agent for primates.

Squeeze Cage

Cage with movable back panel that safely restrains a primate for procedures.

Restraint Chair

Specialized chair that holds a primate in a seated position for prolonged procedures or training.

Orogastric Tube

Tube passed through the mouth to deliver oral medications or nutrition to primates.

Cephalic Vein

Forearm vein frequently used for IV injections or blood collection in primates.

Femoral Vein/Artery

Large vessels in the inner thigh; common sites for anesthetized blood collection in primates.

Sex Determination in Primates

Males have pendulous penis and scrotum; females have vulva and shorter anogenital distance.

Estrous Cycle (NWP)

Reproductive cycle of New World primates that lacks menstrual bleeding.

Menstrual Cycle (OWP)

Approximately 28-day cycle in Old World primates with endometrial sloughing.

Rhesus Monkey Life Span

Typically lives 20–30 years under captive conditions.

Preoperative Fast

Withholding food before anesthesia to reduce aspiration risk; required for primate surgeries.

Environmental Enrichment Plan

Program providing social contact, species-specific behaviors, and housing for postural/locomotor expression.

Tattoo Identification

Permanent marking on chest or thigh used to identify individual primates.

Microchip

Subcutaneous electronic transponder for permanent, scannable primate identification.

Goiter

Thyroid enlargement in primates due to iodine deficiency.

Scurvy

Vitamin C deficiency causing weakness, swollen joints, and hemorrhages in primates.

Rickets

Disease of growing primates from vitamin D deficiency leading to weak, deformed bones.

Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)

Neuromuscular disease causing lockjaw and seizures in primates; preventable via vaccination.

Bloody Nose Syndrome

Epistaxis condition in cynomolgus macaques caused by Branhamella catarrhalis; treated with penicillin.

Melioidosis

Infection with Pseudomonas pseudomallei that may remain latent for years; more common in OWPs.

Platyrrhine Nose

Broad, flat nose with oval nostrils widely separated by a thick septum; seen in New World primates.

Catarrhine Nostrils

Narrow, downward-facing nares separated by a thin septum; characteristic of Old World primates.

Primate Communication

Complex system of vocalizations, facial expressions, postures, and gestures used for social interaction.