Factors Affecting Hematologic and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Abstract

Physiologic changes during development, aging, and pregnancy may affect clinical parameters. Previously available reference values have been based on samples that may include wild and captive marmosets, with little representation of geriatricor pregnant animals. Establishing reference values under various conditions would support better recognition of pathologic conditions in marmosets. One hundred and forty-seven (70 males and 77 females) healthy marmosets from a research colony were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were abnormal physical exam findings at the time of blood sampling, chronicmedications, or clinical or pathologic evidence of disease. Reference intervals were calculated for serum chemistry andhematology. Using metadata, samples were classified based on age, sex, colony source and pregnancy status. Multiple testsindicated significant differences with varying effect sizes, indicating that developing reference intervals based on metadatacan be useful. Across all the comparisons, medium or large effect sizes were observed most frequently in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, total protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), weight and serum albumin. We report normative clinical pathologic data for captive common marmosets through all life stages and reproductive status. Significant differences were observed in most parameters when stratifying data based on age, sex, colony source, or pregnancy, suggesting that developing reference intervals considering this information is important for clinicians.

Analysis of gut microbiome profiles in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in health and intestinal disease

“…To identify other potential biomarkers, serum chemistry and CBC data collected in the course of clinical examinations from our previous publication 42 and medical records to develop RF models using either serum chemistry or CBC data from IBD progressors and non-progressors to identify other potential biomarkers. Unlike the microbiome data, source-dependent clustering was not observed in marmoset serum chemistry or CBC PCA plots (Supp.…”

Alterations in common marmoset gut microbiome associated with duodenal strictures

“…The current study evaluated fecal and rectal swab samples collected over a 2 year period during physical examinations or necropsies. Serum chemistry and complete blood count (CBC) samples from both healthy marmosets and marmosets diagnosed with duodenal ulcer/strictures from the MIT NE colony were routinely collected once a year during physical examinations or during necropsies within the same 2 year period 23 . We identified changes in both microbial communities and blood parameters that may serve as marmoset biomarkers for strictures and propose that marmosets may be useful animal models to study Clostridium -driven GI disorders, such as duodenal strictures.…”

Age‐related changes in hematological biomarkers in common marmosets

“…Additionally, their closer phylogenetic relationship with humans often makes them a more translatable model compared with murine models (Marini et al, 2018). Despite this increasing popularity of use in biomedical studies, only one recent study has defined clinical parameters for chemistry and CBC panels at different stages of life for this species (Kramer et al, 2022). Previous papers which have examined marmoset serum chemistry and CBC in marmosets addressed very small numbers of animals that failed to accurately capture the range of health values for clinical parameters (McNees et al, 1982).…”

“…These physiological changes with age can influence the resulting serum chemistry and CBC values that are taken as a part of routine bloodwork (Hoffman et al, 2016;Kramer et al, 2022;McNees et al, 1982McNees et al, , 1984, which are often used as indicators for health issues in many marmoset colonies. Yet, the ways these parameters change with normal healthy aging have not been well established to allow for accurate diagnostics.…”

“…Only a few small changes in blood urea nitrogen, calcium, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, and serum albumin biomarkers have previously been associated with age in marmosets (Kramer et al, 2022;McNees et al, 1982McNees et al, , 1984. However, these examinations were small in sample size (McNees et al, 1982(McNees et al, , 1984, utilized a limited age range (i.e.…”