Abstract. Naturally occurring deposition of calcium pyrophosphate has been identified in six rhesus monkeys following acute episodes of trauma and various septicemias. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analytical system and single crystal electron diffraction studies were used to identify the crystals within the articular cartilage. The osteoarthritis grading system was used to determine the degree of cartilage degenerative changes.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) is a metabolic disease of articular cartilage associated with a degenerative arthropathy in man? Other crystalline structures have been identified as important etiologic factors of acute and chronic arthropathies such as: urate," hydroxyapatite, lo* and calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate3* crystals. One case of pyrophosphate crystal deposition in a dog synovial membrane has been reported.'A naturally occurring calcium pyrophosphate deposition arthropathy in a rhesus breeding colony has been identified. The acute form followed acute trauma-septicemias and primarily involved the knee and elbow joints; any joint may be affected, however. Generalized joint disease has been identified in adult animals. The chronic disease was evident in rhesus monkeys as joint rigidity, marked atrophy of the musculature, and a degenerative arthropathy. Preliminary attempts to determine the eti'ology '(mycoplasma, virus, rheumatoid) of the arthropathy were negative. Six naturally occurring cases of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease in primates are reported and compared to pyrophosphate deposition disease in man. Materials and MethodsKnee joints fiom six rhesus monkeys of various ages were positive on scanning electron microscopy for pyrophosphate crystals and are included in this study. A positive sample had pyrophosphate crystals which projected from and integrally involved the articular cartilage. Pertinent clinical history is given in table I. All knees were opened and samples of synovial fluid were collected for bacteriologic aerobic and anaerobic culture. From each knee joint, samples of the synovial membrane, articular surface, and menisci were collected and fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated, and critical point dried and coated with gold for scanning electron microscopy. For light microscopy, the synovial membrane, and weight bearing and non-weight bearing articular surfaces were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer. Electron diffraction studies of each case were conducted after scraping critical point dried cartilage with a scalpel blade over formvar-coated grids. Electron diffraction patterns from known standards of hydroxyapatite, brushite and calcium pyrophosphate, (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO.) then were compared to the patterns obtained from the unknown crystals.All articular surface sections for light microscopy were demineralized with decalcifying solution (American Scientific Products, McGraw Park, Ill.) overnight, washed in running ...

In mammals, scent marking behavior is a pervasive form of chemical communication that regulates social interactions within and between groups. Glandular microbiota consist of bacterial communities capable of producing chemical cues used in olfactory communication. Despite countless studies on scent marking in primates, few have examined the microbiota associated with glandular secretions. Nancy Ma's owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) are nocturnal, socially monogamous primates that frequently scent mark using their subcaudal glands. Previous analyses revealed that unique chemical signatures of Aotus may convey information about sex and age. We used positive reinforcement to sample the subcaudal glands of 23 captive owl monkeys to describe their glandular microbiomes and examine how patterns in these bacterial communities vary with age, sex, rearing environment and/or social group (pair identity). We coupled these analyses with behavioral observations to examine patterns in their scent marking behavior. We isolated 31 bacterial species from Phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, consistent with the dermal and glandular microbiomes of other primates. Several bacterial taxa we identified produce volatile organic compounds, which may contribute to olfactory communication. These bacterial communities are best predicted by an interaction between sex, rearing environment and pair identity rather than any of these variables alone. Within mated pairs of A. nancymaae, males and females scent mark their nest boxes at similar frequencies. In some pairs, rates of scent marking by males and females fluctuated over time in a similar manner. Pairs that had been together longer tended to exhibit the greatest similarities in their rates of scent marking. Together, these findings suggest that scent marking behavior and close social interactions with pair mates in Aotus may influence bacterial transmission and their glandular microbiomes. Chemical communication, including coordinated scent marking, may play a role in strengthening pair bonds, signaling pair status and/or in mate guarding in this socially monogamous primate.

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Prolapse of the amniotic sac through the partially dilated cervical os in pregnancy is called "hourglass membranes." Ultrasonography may be useful in identifying the presenting fetal or intra-uterine parts within the bulging membranes.