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Garand E, Krauss C, Müller DWH, Davis LR, Codron D, Clauss M, Miranda F. Larger Than Life? Body Mass Records of Zoo-Managed Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Zoo Biol 2024. [PMID: 39239884 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
It has been suggested repeatedly that zoo-kept giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) have higher body masses than their free-ranging conspecifics. Here, we assess this hypothesis by comparing body mass data of 184 female and 173 male individuals kept in zoos to published and unpublished data of free-ranging animals (n = 215). In zoos, the average adult body mass of all individuals was 45.9 ± 9.6 kg (range 19.2-72.6 kg), whereas body mass for free-ranging specimens was 33.0 ± 2.3 kg (21-45.5 kg). Among those zoo animals in which a sufficient number of subsequent intra-annual measures had been taken, we assessed visually whether regular, annual fluctuations in body mass were evident. We observed regular, likely seasonal, cycles in body mass, which (i) may be plausibly attributed to ambient temperature changes that affect the body temperature of anteaters, and (ii) would likely not have occurred if the animals were affected by obesity. Additionally, we explain our hypothesis that in the case of giant anteaters, the discrepancy in body mass between natural habitats and zoos most likely is not indicative of a generally obese population in zoos, as is typically concluded in the case of similar comparisons in primates, but represents an unleashing of the full growth potential of the species by conditions of optimal energy and nutrient provision. Future recording of not only body mass but also body dimensions is recommended to better compare the body condition of free-ranging and zoo-managed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Garand
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christiane Krauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Daryl Codron
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flávia Miranda
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz-UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
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2
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Dunham NT, Tennant KS, Loudon AH, Dennis PM. Effects of honey locust seed pods on the behavior and nutrient intake of zoo-housed François langurs and prehensile-tailed porcupines. Zoo Biol 2023; 42:537-546. [PMID: 36880591 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Seed pods represent an under-utilized and valuable dietary resource for zoos because they encourage naturalistic extractive foraging behavior and because seeds pods, like leafy browses, are more fiber-rich than most dietary items typically offered in zoos. The primary goal of this study was to examine the effects of honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) seed pods on the behavior and macronutrient intake of zoo-housed François' langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi; n = 3) and prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou prehensilis; n = 2) using a pre- versus postdiet implementation design. From December 2019 to April 2020, we recorded behavior using instantaneous interval sampling and daily macronutrient intake via dietary intake records. We found that time spent feeding increased (p < .001) and stereotypic behaviors decreased (p < .001) for the François' langur group during the seed pod phase. The prehensile-tailed porcupines also exhibited increased time spent feeding and decreased inactivity (p < .001 for all comparisons) during the experimental seed pod phase. We found no differences in macronutrient intake for the François' langur group. The female prehensile-tailed porcupine consumed more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in the seed pod phase (p = .003) and the male consumed more crude protein, NDF, nonstructural carbohydrates, and crude fat (p < .001 for all comparisons). We stress that honey locust seed pods are a fiber-rich (i.e., ~40%-55% NDF by dry weight) dietary option for zoo-housed folivores and promote positive welfare by encouraging naturalistic foraging behavior and may help increase foraging time and decrease stereotypic behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah T Dunham
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kaylin S Tennant
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew H Loudon
- Department of Biology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Patricia M Dennis
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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3
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Nosková E, Modrý D, Baláž V, Červená B, Jirků-Pomajbíková K, Zechmeisterová K, Leowski C, Petrželková KJ, Pšenková I, Vodička R, Kessler SE, Ngoubangoye B, Setchell JM, Pafčo B. Identification of potentially zoonotic parasites in captive orangutans and semi-captive mandrills: Phylogeny and morphological comparison. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23475. [PMID: 36776131 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Cysts and trophozoites of vestibuliferid ciliates and larvae of Strongyloides were found in fecal samples from captive orangutans Pongo pygmaeus and P. abelii from Czech and Slovak zoological gardens. As comparative material, ciliates from semi-captive mandrills Mandrillus sphinx from Gabon were included in the study. Phylogenetic analysis of the detected vestibuliferid ciliates using ITS1-5.8s-rRNA-ITS2 and partial 18S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) revealed that the ciliates from orangutans are conspecific with Balantioides coli lineage A, while the ciliates from mandrills clustered with Buxtonella-like ciliates from other primates. Morphological examination of the cysts and trophozoites using light microscopy did not reveal differences robust enough to identify the genera of the ciliates. Phylogenetic analysis of detected L1 larvae of Strongyloides using partial cox1 revealed Strongyloides stercoralis clustering within the cox1 lineage A infecting dogs, humans, and other primates. The sequences of 18S rDNA support these results. As both B. coli and S. stercoralis are zoonotic parasites and the conditions in captive and semi-captive settings may facilitate transmission to humans, prophylactic measures should reflect the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Nosková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Modrý
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources/CINeZ, Czech University of Life Sciences , Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Baláž
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Červená
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Clotilde Leowski
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Klára J Petrželková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Liberec Zoo, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Sharon E Kessler
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Barthélémy Ngoubangoye
- Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
- Department of Anthropology, and Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Joanna M Setchell
- Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
- Department of Anthropology, and Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Barbora Pafčo
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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4
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Edes AN, Brown JL, Edwards KL. Evaluating individual biomarkers for predicting health risks in zoo-housed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23457. [PMID: 36537335 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Although biomarkers are often used for predicting morbidity and mortality in humans, similar data are lacking in our closest relatives. This study analyzed 16 biomarkers in zoo-housed chimpanzees and bonobos from serum samples collected during both routine and nonroutine veterinary immobilizations. Generalized linear and generalized linear mixed models were used to determine the efficacy of each biomarker to predict all-cause morbidity, defined as the presence of at least one chronic condition, or cardiac disease as a subset of all-cause morbidity. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between biomarkers and mortality risk from any cause. Analyses were conducted using two data sets for each species, one with all values retained (chimpanzees: n = 148; bonobos: n = 33) and the other from samples collected during routine immobilizations only (chimpanzees: n = 95; bonobos: n = 23). Consistent results across both data sets in chimpanzees included associations of higher cortisol with all-cause morbidity risk, lower creatinine with cardiac disease risk, and higher creatinine with mortality risk, and in bonobos were increased cardiac disease risk with higher cortisol and lower dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, fructosamine, and triglycerides. However, there were some inconsistencies between data sets, such as tumor necrosis factor-α predicting mortality risk positively in chimpanzees when all values were retained, but negatively for routine values only. Despite the close evolutionary relationships between chimpanzees and bonobos, the only result observed in both species was a negative association between albumin and mortality risk in the all values retained data sets. Thus, data suggest some biomarkers may be useful predictors of future health outcomes, although a better understanding of both individual and species variation in biomarkers and their contribution to health risks is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Edes
- Department of Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.,Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - Janine L Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - Katie L Edwards
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA.,Conservation Science and Policy, North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Upton by Chester, UK
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5
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RECTAL PROLAPSE IN THE SULAWESI CRESTED BLACK MACAQUE ( MACACA NIGRA): MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, AND RISK FACTORS. J Zoo Wildl Med 2023; 53:722-732. [PMID: 36640074 DOI: 10.1638/2021-0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Empirical data suggest that rectal prolapse (RP) is common in captive Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) in Europe, resulting in the euthanasia of animals that experience repeat occurrences. However, the prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of RP remain unidentified. The aims of this retrospective study were to assess the morbidity and mortality of RP, to provide an overview of management practices, and to identify risk factors for RP in this species. A questionnaire was sent to all European Ex situ Programme institutions that housed M. nigra between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2020. Zoological Information Management System medical records and the studbook were used to obtain additional information. The questionnaire had a response rate of 65%, accounting for 204 animals. Of these animals, 25 (12.3%) suffered from at least one RP event during the study period and recurrence was noted in 72%. The majority of prolapses reverted naturally, but 28% of afflicted animals were euthanized for this ailment. Institutions with M. nigra with high frequencies of diarrhea (P= 0.035), those that provided diets of ≥90% vegetables and high-fiber pellet (P < 0.001), and those with more male than female M. nigra (P < 0.001) had increased odds of RP. Institutions that provided fruits daily (P < 0.002) had reduced odds of having RP cases. Although correlation of RP with diet was identified, confounding cannot be excluded, and a detailed dietary analysis needs to take place before altering feeding practices. Acute stressors and detection of protozoa in fecal samples were common findings before an RP event. Demographic analysis indicated that aged females, young males, and subordinate individuals were most affected by this condition. Where tested during an RP intervention, animals had low serum levels of vitamin D. Pedigree analysis hinted at genetic predisposition in this species and requires further investigation.
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6
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Bakker J, de la Garza MA. Naturally Occurring Endocrine Disorders in Non-Human Primates: A Comprehensive Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:407. [PMID: 35203115 PMCID: PMC8868238 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Literature concerning veterinary medicine of non-human primates is continuously updated, yet endocrine disorders remain underreported. While case or survey reports of individual endocrinopathies are available, a comprehensive review is not. An exhaustive literature search on this subject via widely used academic search systems, (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, BioOne complete and Web of Science), and peer-reviewed publications, proceedings, and newsletters was performed. Selected major endocrine entities will be described with emphasis on clinical signs, morphologic appearances, concomitant diseases, as well as available treatment options. Mostly, no clinical signs were noted and on gross pathology, the endocrine organs were unremarkable. An endocrine-related diagnosis was frequently made as an incidental finding after standard histopathological examination. During the review, the pancreas represented the most affected endocrine organ and diabetes mellitus represented the most clinically significant disorder. Currently, no standard procedure for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating endocrine disorders in non-human primates exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaco Bakker
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Animal Science Department (ASD), 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
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7
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Environmental Enrichment Factors Associated with the Activity Level of Bottlenose Dolphins under Professional Care. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg3010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enrichment can be used to improve the welfare of dolphins in zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins under professional care are typically provided with a range of enrichment that has a variety of features and levels of complexity at various frequencies. In the present study, a subset of data from a larger study entitled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study) was used to examine the relationship between activity level and enrichment buoyancy as well as enrichment provisioning schedules. Survey data were collected from accredited zoos and aquariums related to the types of enrichment provided to the dolphins and the frequency and duration they were supplied. Non-invasive bio-logging devices were used to record the dolphin kinematics one day per week over the course of two five-week data collection periods. Activity level related positively with the total duration of time non-stationary enrichment was provided. In addition, providing a larger number of enrichment types each between 26% and 50% of the days in a month (i.e., rotating many different types of enrichment across days on a moderate schedule) was positively related to activity level. Activity level was negatively related to the number of times sinking enrichment was provided. Understanding how the temporal schedule and features of various types of enrichment are related to activity levels will aid in developing progressively more effective enrichment programs.
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8
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Moresco A, Feltrer-Rambaud Y, Wolfman D, Agnew DW. Reproductive one health in primates. Am J Primatol 2021; 84:e23325. [PMID: 34516669 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
One Health is a collaborative trans-disciplinary approach to health; integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The focus is often on infection disease transmission and disease risk mitigation. However, One Health also includes the multidisciplinary and comparative approach to disease investigation and health of humans, animals, and the environment. One key aspect of environmental/ecosystem health is conservation, the maintenance of healthy, actively reproducing wildlife populations. Reproduction and reproductive health are an integral part of the One Health approach: the comparative aspects of reproduction can inform conservation policies or breeding strategies (in situ and ex situ) in addition to physiology and disease. Differences in reproductive strategies affect the impact poaching and habitat disruption might have on a given population, as well as ex situ breeding programs and the management of zoo and sanctuary populations. Much is known about chimpanzees, macaques, and marmosets as these are common animal models, but there is much that remains unknown regarding reproduction in many other primates. Examining the similarities and differences between and within taxonomic groups allows reasonable extrapolation for decision-making when there are knowledge gaps. For example: (1) knowing that a species has very low reproductive rates adds urgency to conservation policy for that region or species; (2) identifying species with short or absent lactation anestrus allows ex situ institutions to better plan contraception options for specific individuals or prepare for the immediate next pregnancy; (3) recognizing that progestin contraceptives are effective contraceptives, but may be associated with endometrial hyperplasia in some species (in Lemuridae but not great apes) better guides empirical contraceptive choice; (4) recognizing the variable endometriosis prevalence across taxa improves preventive medicine programs. A summary of anatomical variation, endocrinology, contraception, pathology, and diagnostics is provided to illustrate these features and aid in routine physical and postmortem examinations as well as primate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneke Moresco
- International Primate Health & Welfare Group, Madrid, Spain.,Reproductive Health Surveillance Program, Morrison, Colorado, USA
| | - Yedra Feltrer-Rambaud
- International Primate Health & Welfare Group, Madrid, Spain.,EAZA Reproductive Management Group, Chester, UK
| | - Darcy Wolfman
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, National Capital Region, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dalen W Agnew
- Reproductive Health Surveillance Program, Morrison, Colorado, USA.,Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Lauderdale LK, Shorter KA, Zhang D, Gabaldon J, Mellen JD, Walsh MT, Granger DA, Miller LJ. Bottlenose dolphin habitat and management factors related to activity and distance traveled in zoos and aquariums. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250687. [PMID: 34460858 PMCID: PMC8405030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High-resolution non-invasive cetacean tagging systems can be used to investigate the influence of habitat characteristics and management factors on behavior by quantifying activity levels and distance traveled by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus and Tursiops aduncus) in accredited zoos and aquariums. Movement Tags (MTags), a bio-logging device, were used to record a suite of kinematic and environmental information outside of formal training sessions as part of a larger study titled "Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums" (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study). The purpose of the present study was to explore if and how habitat characteristics, environmental enrichment programs, and training programs were related to the distance traveled and energy expenditure of dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins in accredited zoos and aquariums wore MTags one day per week for two five-week data collection periods. Overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, and average distance traveled per hour (ADT) of 60 dolphins in 31 habitats were examined in relation to demographic, habitat, and management factors. Participating facilities were accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and/or Aquariums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Two factors were found to be related to ADT while six factors were associated with ODBA. The results showed that enrichment programs were strongly related to both ODBA and ADT. Scheduling predictable training session times was also positively associated with ADT. The findings suggested that habitat characteristics had a relatively weak association with ODBA and were not related to ADT. In combination, the results suggested that management practices were more strongly related to activity levels than habitat characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K. Lauderdale
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - K. Alex Shorter
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ding Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Joaquin Gabaldon
- Robotics Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jill D. Mellen
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Walsh
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Lance J. Miller
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
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10
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Pereira S, Hernandez Salazar LT, Laska M. Taste detection threshold of human (Homo sapiens) subjects and taste preference threshold of black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) for the sugar substitute isomalt. Primates 2021; 62:389-394. [PMID: 33011867 PMCID: PMC7936935 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-020-00868-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The artificial sweetener isomalt is widely used due to its low caloric, non-diabetogenic and non-cariogenic properties. Although the sweetening potency of isomalt has been reported to be lower than that of sucrose, no data on the sensitivity of humans for this polyol are available. Using an up-down, two-alternative forced choice staircase procedure we therefore determined taste detection thresholds for isomalt in human subjects (n = 10; five females and five males) and compared them to taste preference thresholds, determined using a two-bottle preference test of short duration, in a highly frugivorous nonhuman primate, the spider monkey (n = 4; one female, three males). We found that both species detected concentrations of isomalt as low as 20 mM. Both humans and spider monkeys are less sensitive to isomalt than to sucrose, which is consistent with the notion of the former being a low-potency sweetener. The spider monkeys clearly preferred all suprathreshold concentrations tested over water, suggesting that, similar to humans, they perceive isomalt as having a purely sweet taste that is indistinguishable from that of sucrose. As isomalt, like most sweet-tasting polyols, may elicit gastric distress when consumed in large quantities, the present findings may contribute to the choice of appropriate amounts and concentrations of this sweetener when it is employed as a sugar substitute or food additive for human consumption. Similarly, the taste preference threshold values of spider monkeys for isomalt reported here may be useful for determining how much of it should be used when it is employed as a low-caloric sweetener for frugivorous primates kept on a vegetable-based diet, or when medication needs to be administered orally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pereira
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Matthias Laska
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
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11
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Mellor EL, Cuthill IC, Schwitzer C, Mason GJ, Mendl M. Large Lemurs: Ecological, Demographic and Environmental Risk Factors for Weight Gain in Captivity. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10081443. [PMID: 32824807 PMCID: PMC7460476 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Excessive body mass, i.e., being overweight or obese, is a health concern. Some lemur species are prone to extreme weight gain in captivity, yet for others a healthy body condition is typical. The first aim of our study was to examine possible ecological explanations for these species’ differences in susceptibility to captive weight gain across 13 lemur species. Our second aim was to explore demographic and environmental risk factors across individuals from the four best-sampled species. We found a potential ecological explanation for susceptibility to captive weight gain: being adapted to unpredictable wild food resources. Additionally, we also revealed one environmental and four demographic risk factors, e.g., increasing age and, for males, being housed with only fixed climbing structures. Our results indicate targeted practical ways to help address weight issues in affected animals, e.g., by highlighting at-risk species for whom extra care should be taken when designing diets; and by providing a mixture of flexible and fixed climbing structures within enclosures. Abstract Excessive body mass, i.e., being overweight or obese, is a health concern associated with issues such as reduced fertility and lifespan. Some lemur species are prone to extreme weight gain in captivity, yet others are not. To better understand species- and individual-level effects on susceptibility to captive weight gain, we use two complementary methods: phylogenetic comparative methods to examine ecological explanations for susceptibility to weight gain across species, and epidemiological approaches to examine demographic and environment effects within species. Data on body masses and living conditions were collected using a survey, yielding useable data on 675 lemurs representing 13 species from 96 collections worldwide. Data on species-typical wild ecology for comparative analyses came from published literature and climate databases. We uncovered one potential ecological risk factor: species adapted to greater wild food resource unpredictability tended to be more prone to weight gain. Our epidemiological analyses on the four best-sampled species revealed four demographic and one environmental risk factors, e.g., for males, being housed with only fixed climbing structures. We make practical recommendations to help address weight concerns, and describe future research including ways to validate the proxy we used to infer body condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Mellor
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK;
- Correspondence:
| | - Innes C. Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK;
| | | | - Georgia J. Mason
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Michael Mendl
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK;
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12
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Buscaglia NA, Hanley CS. Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). J Med Primatol 2020; 49:332-336. [PMID: 32542742 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A 19-year-old female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presented for cachexia, acute weakness, hyporexia, icterus, and polyuria. The animal was diagnosed with a hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, which is a well-recognized syndrome in diabetic humans that is rarely diagnosed in animals. This case documents an important and likely under-reported syndrome in non-human primates.
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Chen ST, Luo X, Hou R, Raubenheimer D, Ji W, Jin X, Jiang Z, Yu X, Wang J, Li M, Guo S, Li B. Nutrient Balancing by Captive Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana). INT J PRIMATOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Cabana F, Jasmi R, Maguire R. Great ape nutrition: low-sugar and high-fibre diets can lead to increased natural behaviours, decreased regurgitation and reingestion, and reversal of prediabetes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/izy.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Cabana
- Wildlife Nutrition Centre; Wildlife Reserves Singapore; 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
| | - R. Jasmi
- Wildlife Nutrition Centre; Wildlife Reserves Singapore; 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
| | - R. Maguire
- Veterinary Services; Wildlife Reserves Singapore; 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
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TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN A GOLDEN LION TAMARIN (LEONTOPITHECUS ROSALIA) WITH THE GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 MIMETIC EXENATIDE. J Zoo Wildl Med 2016; 47:903-906. [PMID: 27691959 DOI: 10.1638/2015-0270.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An 8-yr-old male golden lion tamarin ( Leontopithecus rosalia ) was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus based on hyperglycemia and persistent glycosuria. Initial treatment consisted of the oral antihyperglycemic medications glipizide and metformin that resulted in decreased blood glucose concentrations; however, marked glycosuria persisted. Insufficient improvement on oral antihyperglycemic therapy and poor feasibility of daily subcutaneous insulin therapy led to an investigation into an alternative therapy with extended-release exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetic, at a dosage of 0.13 mg/kg subcutaneously once per month. Following treatment with exenatide, the persistent glycosuria resolved, the animal maintained normal blood glucose concentrations, and had lower serum fructosamine concentrations compared to pretreatment levels. Based on these findings, extended-release exenatide could be considered as a therapeutic option in nonhuman primates with diabetes mellitus that do not respond to oral antihyperglycemics and in which daily subcutaneous insulin is not feasible.
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An Introduction to the History and Controversies of Animal Models of Diabetic Neuropathy. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2016; 127:45-52. [PMID: 27133144 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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Mumby HS, Chapman SN, Crawley JAH, Mar KU, Htut W, Thura Soe A, Aung HH, Lummaa V. Distinguishing between determinate and indeterminate growth in a long-lived mammal. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:214. [PMID: 26464339 PMCID: PMC4604763 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The growth strategy of a species influences many key aspects of its life-history. Animals can either grow indeterminately (throughout life), or grow determinately, ceasing at maturity. In mammals, continued weight gain after maturity is clearly distinguishable from continued skeletal growth (indeterminate growth). Elephants represent an interesting candidate for studying growth because of their large size, long life and sexual dimorphism. Objective measures of their weight, height and age, however, are rare. RESULTS We investigate evidence for indeterminate growth in the Asian elephant Elephas maximus using a longitudinal dataset from a semi-captive population. We fit growth curves to weight and height measurements, assess sex differences in growth, and test for indeterminate growth by comparing the asymptotes for height and weight curves. Our results show no evidence for indeterminate growth in the Asian elephant; neither sex increases in height throughout life, with the majority of height growth completed by the age of 15 years in females and 21 years in males. Females show a similar pattern with weight, whereas males continue to gain weight until over age 50. Neither sex shows any declines in weight with age. CONCLUSIONS These results have implications for understanding mammalian life-history, which could include sex-specific differences in trade-offs between size and reproductive investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Simon N Chapman
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Jennie A H Crawley
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Khyne U Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Win Htut
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Aung Thura Soe
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Htoo Htoo Aung
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Schermerhorn T. Normal glucose metabolism in carnivores overlaps with diabetes pathology in non-carnivores. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:188. [PMID: 24348462 PMCID: PMC3847661 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnivores, such as the dolphin and the domestic cat, have numerous adaptations that befit consumption of diets with high protein and fat content, with little carbohydrate content. Consequently, nutrient metabolism in carnivorous species differs substantially from that of non-carnivores. Important metabolic pathways known to differ between carnivores and non-carnivores are implicated in the development of diabetes and insulin resistance in non-carnivores: (1) the hepatic glucokinase (GCK) pathway is absent in healthy carnivores yet GCK deficiency may result in diabetes in rodents and humans, (2) healthy dolphins and cats are prone to periods of fasting hyperglycemia and exhibit insulin resistance, both of which are risk factors for diabetes in non-carnivores. Similarly, carnivores develop naturally occurring diseases such as hemochromatosis, fatty liver, obesity, and diabetes that have strong parallels with the same disorders in humans. Understanding how evolution, environment, diet, and domestication may play a role with nutrient metabolism in the dolphin and cat may also be relevant to human diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schermerhorn
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
- *Correspondence: Thomas Schermerhorn, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-5606, USA e-mail:
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