The effects of various anesthetics on tissue levels of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate in rats.

We report that the short-term use of various anesthetic agents prior to decapitation causes alteration of the levels of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate in kidney, brain, heart, muscle, and liver. These data indicate that even light anesthesia can not be used when levels of this metabolite are to be determined. Also, it appears that the use of any of these anesthetics can profoundly alter glucose utilization in many tissues.

Effects of anesthetics and foster mother experience on survival rate of cesarean derived, foster suckled rat pups.

Pregnant rats were anesthetized with carbon dioxide or a ketamine/xylazine combination prior to euthanasia and cesarean section. Another group of pregnant rats was allowed to deliver their litters normally. Litters from all groups were placed with experienced or inexperienced foster mothers. There did not appear to be any significant difference in survival rates of pups fostered to experienced mothers when comparing the three groups. Survival rates for pups fostered to inexperienced mothers were lower than those for pups fostered to experienced mothers.

Serum biochemical, hematological and body measurement data for common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus).

Blood samples were drawn and body measurements taken from healthy adult and juvenile common marmosets which had been housed under controlled environmental conditions for a minimum of 2 years. Blood was analyzed for serum biochemical and hematological constituents.

A surgical procedure and tethering system for chronic blood sampling, infusion, and temperature monitoring in caged nonhuman primates.

A jacket and tethering system was used to maintain chronic catheters in monkeys, which provided catheter access and manipulability without further restraint. Surgical placement of catheters and a temperature probe allowed for a common cutaneous exit and interface with the jacket and tether. Monkeys were fitted in a sterile leather or denim jacket which was attached to a sterilized flexible stainless steel cable. Through this conduit, an indwelling temperature probe, as well as catheters from the internal jugular and femoral veins, were attached to a swivel unit located on the upper portion of the cage. The internal jugular catheter was used for the continuous infusion of support solution. The catheter from the femoral vein was maintained with a heparin lock and used for serial blood sampling. Using this system, it was possible to obtain frequent blood samples and body temperature readings, and to administer a continuous intravenous infusion without chemical or excessive physical restraint. To date, 367 monkeys, 322 cynomolgus (Macaca fasicularis), 16 rhesus (Macaca mulatta), and 21 African green (Cercopithecus aethiops) have been studied using this procedure.

Acute clinical malaria (Plasmodium inui) in a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

Acute clinical malaria caused by Plasmodium inui was diagnosed in an adult female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) 4 years after importation into the United States. Stress and immunosuppression associated with experimentation completed 2 weeks earlier may have contributed to the development of severe clinical disease. Clinical findings included severe regenerative anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, weakness, lethargy, weight loss, and anorexia. The infection was treated and successfully eliminated with chloroquine hydrochloride administered intramuscularly at a dose of 5 mg/kg base given at 0, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Treatment also included a blood transfusion and intensive supportive care.

Hematologic characterization of naturally occurring malaria (Plasmodium inui) in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Twenty of 47 recently imported cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were found to have malarial infections. The agent identified was Plasmodium inui. All infections were subclinical in nature. Parasitemias ranged from 10 to 900 parasites/mm3 of whole blood. Pre- and post-treatment hematologic values were evaluated following treatment with chloroquine. Treatment was effective in clearing parasitemias from 13 of 14 infected monkeys. Pretreatment values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume were significantly different in infected animals compared to noninfected animals. While post-treatment hemoglobin and hematocrit values returned to noninfected control levels, mean corpuscular volume values of infected animals remained significantly lower in the post-treatment period.

Characterization of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi strains in two species of naturally infected, laboratory-reared chiggers.

The strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi found in naturally infected, laboratory-reared Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) arenicola and L. (L.) fletcheri chiggers were characterized by direct immunofluorescence (FA) and by mouse and monkey virulence tests. The strains existing in the L. (L.) arenicola chiggers consisted of different combinations of TA716, TA763, TA686, Karp, and Kato. In addition to these five strains, Gilliam was found in the L. (L.) fletcheri chiggers. Results indicate that individual chiggers can be simultaneously infected with several antigenic strains of R. tsutsugamushi. Although these antigens appear to remain stable within familial lines when several generations were viewed, the antigenic patterns observed in two succeeding generations did not always correlate. This variable expression of antigens was considered to be due to a quantitative fluctuation from one generation to the next in the strains of rickettsiae combined with a lack of sensitivity of the direct FA test in detecting small numbers of antigenically different rickettsiae. Phenotypic variation was considered to be a less probable explanation. Morbidity and mortality were minimal in ICR mice fed upon by individual chiggers of either species, but infection rates were 85-99%. Tissue suspensions prepared from mice infected by L. (L.) arenicola produced higher mortality and longer duration of illness in mice than those prepared from L. (L.) fletcheri-infected mice. Silvered leaf and cynomolgus monkeys were fed upon by the two species of chiggers or inoculated with the mouse tissue suspensions. In both cases, minimal clinical responses were observed.

An epizootic of measles in captive silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) in Malaysia.

An epizootic of measles occurred in a group of 31 silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) that had been in captivity for 4-12 months. Twenty-four of the monkeys exhibited a maculopapular rash that persisted for 6-9 days. A serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge and conjunctivitis were seen in some animals. Eight monkeys died during the epizootic; however, their deaths could not be directly attributed to measles. Serum samples from the surviving monkeys collected 1-2 months prior to, and 5 weeks after, the epizootic were examined by the complement-fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition tests for antibodies to measles virus. The preepizootic complement-fixation titers were all less than 1:4 and hemagglutination-inhibition titers, less than 1:10. The postepizootic complement-fixation titers in 21 of 23 surviving monkeys ranged from 1:8 to 1:128, and hemagglutination-inhibition titers in 22 of 23 monkeys ranged from 1:40 to 1:80 or greater.

Establishment of a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) breeding colony in Malaysia: a feasibility study.

A breeding colony utilizing a harem mating system was established to study the feasibility of breeding cynomoglus monkeys, Macaca fascicularis, in Malaysia. Two groups consisting of 10 females and one male each were evaluated over a 3 period. Forty births were recorded; one was stillborn, 11 died while nursing, and 28 were weaned. The average time to wean offspring was 230 days with an average weight at weaning of 0.858 kg. The average time for conception to take place after weaning was 50 days. Of the 20 breeder females, six produced three offspring each, nine produced two offspring each, four produced one offspring each and one remained barren throughout the project. Three different weaning systems were evaluated. The best method was caging the mother-infant pair within or adjacent to the breeding room followed by a two-part cage system which allowed the infant to continue nursing and also obtain solid food inaccessible to the mother.

Comparison of experimental Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infections in silvered leaf (Presbytis cristatus) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys.

Both silvered leaf and cynomolgus monkeys were infected with the Gilliam, Karp and Kato strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. The two species developed similar clinical syndromes, but the antibody responses were greater in cynomolgus monkeys. In both species of monkeys, the Gilliam strain induced more severe clinical manifestations. At 10 months post-infection, silvered leaf monkeys were immune to homologous intradermal (id) challenge. Cynomolgus monkeys, at 15 months post-infection, were relatively resistant to homologous intravenous challenge, but not to a homologous or heterologous id challenge.

Clinical responses of silvered leaf monkeys to infection with selected strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi.

Minimal clinical and hematologic signs were observed in silvered leaf monkeys inoculated intradermally with four strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, both virulent and avirulent for laboratory mice. The clinical response of the monkeys to the infection was related to neither the virulence of the strains in mice nor the antigenic characteristics of the strains.

Experimental Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infections in dogs.

Dogs were infected intravenously and intradermally with the Gilliam and Karp strains of R. tsutsugamushi. Although the development of clinical signs was related to the dose of the organism, Gilliam-infected dogs developed severer infections than those infected with Karp. Specific antibodies were demonstrated in sera of experimentally infected dogs.

Hematologic, biochemical, and physiologic indices of the sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas).

Hematologic, biochemical, and physiologic indices for a recently imported group of sacred baboons, Papio hamadryas, were studied over a 6-week period. Hematologic values were in agreement with results recorded for other species of baboons. Blood biochemical data were consistent with findings previously reported for other baboons and for man except that alkaline phosphatase levels were higher than previously for other baboons but similar to those reported for man; lactic dehydrogenase levels were higher than for man but lower than for other baboons; cholesterol levels were within the range for baboons but lower than for man; and creatinine and uric acid levels were lower and amylase levels were higher than those for man. Temperature and respiration and pulse rates were in agreement with those reported for other baboons.