Management of a measles outbreak among Old World nonhuman primates.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A measles outbreak in a facility housing Old World nonhuman primates developed over a 2-month period in 1996, providing an opportunity to study the epidemiology of this highly infectious disease in an animal-handling setting. METHODS: Serum and urine specimens were collected from monkeys housed in the room where the initial measles cases were identified, other monkeys with suspicious measles-like signs, and employees working in the affected areas. Serum specimens were tested for measles virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies, and urine specimens were tested for measles virus by virus isolation or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: A total of 94 monkeys in two separate facilities had evidence of an acute measles infection. The outbreak was caused by a wild-type virus that had been associated with recent human cases of acute measles in the United States; however, an investigation was unable to identify the original source of the outbreak. Quarantine and massive vaccination helped to control further spread of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Results emphasize the value of having a measles control plan in place that includes a preventive measles vaccination program involving human and nonhuman primates to decrease the likelihood of a facility outbreak.

Effect of tryptophan treatment on self-biting and central nervous system serotonin metabolism in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

UNLABELLED: Two studies were conducted to examine the effects of oral L-tryptophan (TRP) supplementation as a treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and to investigate behavior and central serotonin turnover of male rhesus monkeys. In Study One, TRP was administered to seven individually housed rhesus monkeys with a recent history of spontaneous SIB. While the monkeys were on TRP treatment (100 mg/kg twice a day), cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid increased markedly (p = .0013) above baseline (baseline mean = 207.6 pmol/ml +/- 39; TRP mean = 320.3 pmol/ml +/- 83.4), and the duration of self-biting behavior decreased below baseline (p = .03). In Study Two, 14 individually housed rhesus monkeys without a history of SIB were placed on three different doses of TRP in random order (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg twice a day). TRP had no effect on any behavioral or biochemical variables in the normal monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: Supplemental tryptophan in well-tolerated doses reduced self-biting and increases serotonin turnover rate in male monkeys with a recent history of SIB. The same doses of TRP do not affect behavior or serotonin metabolism in male monkeys without a history of SIB.

Hepatic hemosiderosis in common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus: effect of diet on incidence and severity.

We examined the effect of dietary iron concentration on the incidence of hepatic hemosiderosis in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and assessed the impact of hemosiderosis on animal health. Thirteen young adult common marmosets were fed nutritionally balanced natural-ingredient diets formulated to contain either 100 or 500 ppm of iron. Six were fed the low-iron and seven received the high-iron diet. Baseline blood values and liver iron content were determined for each animal. Animals were weighted monthly, blood work (hematologic analysis, serum iron concentration, total iron-binding capacity, percent of transferrin saturation) was performed semi-annually, and liver biopsies for iron analysis were obtained after marmosets had consumed the test diets for 13 months or at necropsy. Midway in study, the high-iron diet was reformulated to contain 350 ppm of iron because of the death of a male which had consumed that diet for 7 months. Four of seven marmosets fed the high-iron diet died during the first year of the study, compared with one death in the low-iron cohort. The mean increase in liver iron content of the marmosets fed the high-iron diet was 6,371 micrograms/g, dry weight analysis. In contrast the low-iron cohort had a mean decrease of 621.5 micrograms/g. These results indicate that liver iron content can be affected by dietary iron intake. The increased mortality in the marmosets fed the high-iron diet also suggests that hepatic hemosiderosis can be detrimental to marmoset health.

Seasonal variation in the estrous cycle of mares in the subtropics.

Data on the estrous cycles and sexual receptivity scores of 7 maiden Australian Stock Horse mares were used to study seasonal variation from December until the following November. Mares were grazed in paddocks containing both native and improved tropical pasture species. The study was conducted in South-East Queensland (27 degrees 27' South latitude). There were no differences between either the sexual receptivity or the lengths of natural (Mean=7.5 days, SEM=0.4) and PGF-induced estruses (Mean=7.6 days, SEM=0.4). Plasma estrogens were not related to differences in sexual receptivity scores between mares. The lowest incidence of estrus occurred at the time of the winter solstice (June 22) in the Southern Hemisphere. Winter estruses (Mean=9.3 days, SEM=0.8) were longer than those of summer (Mean=6.6 days, SEM=0.5) and autumn (Mean=6.6 days, SEM=0.9). Approximately 30% of estruses were anovulatory. Most of these occurred in autumn and winter (P<0.05). There was considerable variation in the occurrence of anovulatory estrus between mares. There were no differences between the lengths of ovulatory and anovulatory estruses. Ovulatory estruses were significantly longer in spring than in summer (P<0.05). There were no seasonal differences between the lengths of anovulatory estruses. The length of diestrus (Mean=16.6 days, SEM=0.3) was not affected by mare or season. Only 3 of the 7 mares did not cycle during winter (anestrus), as confirmed by progesterone concentrations of less than 1 ng/ml. Finally, there was no evidence of mares having 2 breeding seasons per year in this study.

A study of nonsurgical embryo transfer in the mare.

The success rate of nonsurgical embryo recovery was influenced neither by year nor by season within years. The preferred method of nonsurgical embryo transfer was by Cassou pistolette. From a total of 15 attempts to transfer embryos nonsurgically, 9 (60%) were successful. Of the five attempts during February through April 1982, only one was successful in producing a live foal. The degree of synchrony between the ovulations of the donors and recipients in these five attempts ranged from +3 to -3 d. The recipient of the successful transfer ovulated on the same day as the donor. Eight of the ten attempts during September through December 1982 produced live foals. Synchronization of ovulations between the donors and recipients in these transfers ranged from 0 to -2 d. Repeated attempts to recover embryos had no deleterious effects on fertility of the donors.