Comparison between three dosages of intramuscular alfaxalone and a ketamine-dexmedetomidine-midazolam-tramadol combination in golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas).

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of alfaxalone at three dose rates in comparison with a ketamine-dexmedetomidine-midazolam-tramadol combination (KDMT) for immobilization of golden-headed lion tamarins (GHLTs) (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) undergoing vasectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: A total of 19 healthy, male, wild-caught GHLTs. METHODS: Tamarins were administered alfaxalone intramuscularly (IM) at 6, 12 or 15 mg kg-1, or KDMT, ketamine (15 mg kg-1), dexmedetomidine (0.015 mg kg-1), midazolam (0.5 mg kg-1) and tramadol (4 mg kg-1) IM. Immediately after immobilization, lidocaine (8 mg kg-1) was infiltrated subcutaneously (SC) at the incision site in all animals. Physiologic variables, anesthetic depth and quality of immobilization were assessed. At the end of the procedure, atipamezole (0.15 mg kg-1) was administered IM to group KDMT and tramadol (4 mg kg-1) SC to the other groups; all animals were injected with ketoprofen (2 mg kg-1) SC. RESULTS: A dose-dependent increase in sedation, muscle relaxation and immobilization time was noted in the alfaxalone groups. Despite the administration of atipamezole, the recovery time was longer for KDMT than all other groups. Muscle tremors were noted in some animals during induction and recovery with alfaxalone. No significant differences were observed for cardiovascular variables among the alfaxalone groups, whereas an initial decrease in heart rate and systolic arterial blood pressure was recorded in KDMT, which increased after atipamezole administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alfaxalone dose rates of 12 or 15 mg kg-1 IM with local anesthesia provided good sedation and subjectively adequate pain control for vasectomies in GHLTs. KDMT induced a deeper plane of anesthesia and should be considered for more invasive or painful procedures. All study groups experienced mild to moderate hypothermia and hypoxemia; therefore, the use of more efficient heating devices and oxygen supplementation is strongly recommended when using these protocols.

Mitogenomic phylogeny of Callithrix with special focus on human transferred taxa.

BACKGROUND: Callithrix marmosets are a relatively young primate radiation, whose phylogeny is not yet fully resolved. These primates are naturally para- and allopatric, but three species with highly invasive potential have been introduced into the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest by the pet trade. There, these species hybridize with each other and endangered, native congeners. We aimed here to reconstruct a robust Callithrix phylogeny and divergence time estimates, and identify the biogeographic origins of autochthonous and allochthonous Callithrix mitogenome lineages. We sequenced 49 mitogenomes from four species (C. aurita, C. geoffroyi, C. jacchus, C. penicillata) and anthropogenic hybrids (C. aurita x Callithrix sp., C. penicillata x C. jacchus, Callithrix sp. x Callithrix sp., C. penicillata x C. geoffroyi) via Sanger and whole genome sequencing. We combined these data with previously published Callithrix mitogenomes to analyze five Callithrix species in total. RESULTS: We report the complete sequence and organization of the C. aurita mitogenome. Phylogenetic analyses showed that C. aurita was the first to diverge within Callithrix 3.54 million years ago (Ma), while C. jacchus and C. penicillata lineages diverged most recently 0.5 Ma as sister clades. MtDNA clades of C. aurita, C. geoffroyi, and C. penicillata show intraspecific geographic structure, but C. penicillata clades appear polyphyletic. Hybrids, which were identified by phenotype, possessed mainly C. penicillata or C. jacchus mtDNA haplotypes. The biogeographic origins of mtDNA haplotypes from hybrid and allochthonous Callithrix were broadly distributed across natural Callithrix ranges. Our phylogenetic results also evidence introgression of C. jacchus mtDNA into C. aurita. CONCLUSION: Our robust Callithrix mitogenome phylogeny shows C. aurita lineages as basal and C. jacchus lineages among the most recent within Callithrix. We provide the first evidence that parental mtDNA lineages of anthropogenic hybrid and allochthonous marmosets are broadly distributed inside and outside of the Atlantic Forest. We also show evidence of cryptic hybridization between allochthonous Callithrix and autochthonous C. aurita. Our results encouragingly show that further development of genomic resources will allow to more clearly elucidate Callithrix evolutionary relationships and understand the dynamics of Callithrix anthropogenic introductions into the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Spontaneous meningoencephalitis by Staphylococcus aureus in an infant golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas).

Non-human primates are susceptible to many bacteria, some of which bear zoonotic potential. We report the pathologic features of spontaneous fulminating meningoencephalitis by Staphylococcus aureus in a captive infant golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) from Brazil.

Early reversal of ketamine/dexmedetomidine chemical immobilization by atipamezole in golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas).

BACKGROUND: A smooth and rapid recovery from anesthesia allowing safe release is desirable, especially for wild species. This study describes the clinical effects of the combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine and the partial reversal with atipamezole in golden-headed lion tamarins. METHODS: Dexmedetomidine 10 µg kg-1 and ketamine 15 mg kg-1 were administered to 45 golden-headed lion tamarins undergoing vasectomy. Following surgery, animals were assigned to three groups: control (SAL; 0.9% NaCl), atipamezole 20 µg kg-1 (ATI20), and atipamezole 40 µg kg-1 (ATI40). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: All animals presented great scores of sedation and muscle relaxation during the procedure. Recovery in the control group was smooth and uneventful. Salivation, muscle tremors, and head movements were observed in ATI 20 and ATI40. The administration of atipamezole did not change total recovery times (ATI20 69 ± 23 minutes; ATI40 72 ± 45 minutes; SAL 57 ± 23 minutes).

Physicochemical characterization and sensory evaluation of yogurts incorporated with beta-carotene-loaded solid lipid microparticles stabilized with hydrolyzed soy protein isolate.

Beta-carotene is an extremely interesting bioactive compound in the food industry due to its antioxidant capacity and pro-vitamin A activity. However, its incorporation into food products can be challenging, as it is highly hydrophobic and chemically unstable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating beta-carotene-loaded solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) stabilized with a hydrolyzed soy protein isolate in yogurt. The SLMs were produced using palm stearin as the lipid phase. Microparticle dispersions containing only beta-carotene and both beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol were incorporated into yogurts, comprising 5% of its total mass. This addition itself was efficient to provide color, and the presence of the lipid microparticles did not change the physicochemical or the rheological characteristics of the product. Based on the sensory evaluation, the panelists approved the yogurt, as average grades of global acceptance were around 8.0 ("liked it very much") on the hedonic scale.

Leptospira spp., rotavirus, norovirus, and hepatitis E virus surveillance in a wild invasive golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas; Kuhl, 1820) population from an urban park in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The world currently faces severe biodiversity losses caused by anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, pollution, the introduction of exotic species, habitat fragmentation, and climate changes. Disease ecology in altered environments is still poorly understood. The golden-headed lion tamarin (GHLT, Leontopithecus chrysomelas) is an endangered species that became invasive in an urban park in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The initially few invasive GHLT individuals became hundreds, adapted to living in proximity to humans and domestic animals. These GHLTs were captured as part of a conservation project; some animals were translocated to Bahia and some were kept in captivity. This study tested 593 GHLT for Leptospira serology; 100 and 95 GHLT for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) toLeptospira and hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3), respectively, and 101 familiar groups for PCR to viruses (rotavirus A, norovirus GI and GII, and HEV-3). One animal had antibodies for Leptospira serovar Shermani and another for serovar Hebdomadis. One saprophyticLeptospira was found by the 16S PCR and sequencing. Viruses were not detected in samples tested. Findings suggest that the epidemiological importance of such pathogens in this GHLT population is either low or nonexistent. These data are important to understand the local disease ecology, as well as monitoring a translocation project, and to contribute data for species conservation.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal liposarcoma in a free-ranging juvenile golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas).

Malignant adipocytic neoplasia is rare among nonhuman primates. We report the gross and microscopic features of a retroperitoneal liposarcoma with myxofibrosarcoma-like dedifferentiation in a free-ranging juvenile golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas). To our knowledge, this is the first report of such tumor subtype in New World primates.

Evaluation of three chemical immobilization protocols in golden-headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) undergoing vasectomy surgery.

BACKGROUND: The golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas), originally endemic to Bahia, was introduced in Rio de Janeiro. The species is currently found in remaining forests within the region of original occupation of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), which may compromise the survival of the golden lion tamarin. Groups of golden-headed lion tamarins were captured and translocated to Bahia. However, the area chosen reached its limit and males underwent to vasectomy procedures. METHODS: Animals were separated into 3 groups: S-ketamine and midazolam, S-ketamine and dexmedetomidine, and racemic ketamine and dexmedetomidine. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate, sedation and muscle relaxation degrees, antinociception, and lidocaine consumption presented significant difference between midazolam and dexmedetomidine groups. Bradycardia was present on dexmedetomidine groups, with values remaining within the normal range. Dexmedetomidine groups present the best outcomes for muscle relaxation, sedation, and antinociception and were safe for vasectomy surgery in golden-headed lion tamarins.

Encapsulation of Beta-carotene in Lipid Microparticles Stabilized with Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate: Production Parameters, Alpha-tocopherol Coencapsulation and Stability Under Stress Conditions.

The objectives of this research were to study the encapsulation of beta-carotene (BC) in solid lipid microparticles (SLM) of palm stearin (PS) and stabilized with hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (HSPI), and also to investigate the effect of alpha-tocopherol (TOC) addition to the systems. Through the characterizations of SLM produced with different formulations, it was verified that systems with 5% (w/v) PS, 1.0% (w/v) HSPI, and 0.3% (w/v) xanthan gum (XG) presented the highest stability, with average diameters of approximately 1.2 µm. This formulation was applied for the production of BC-loaded SLM, with different concentrations of TOC. In SLM containing TOC, nearly 75% of encapsulated BC was preserved after 45 d of storage. The kinetic profiles for degradation of encapsulated BC were fitted to a pseudo-1st-order model, and the results showed that the main difference among the systems with different BC:TOC ratios was the residual concentration of BC. The stability of the BC-loaded SLMs was also studied after stress conditions, and the results showed that the SLMs were able to support thermal treatments over 60 °C but presented low stability after different ionic strength stresses.