Hematological and serum biochemistry data on southern brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) in captivity in Brazil

Abstract

Background: Physiological values reflect the health condition and responses of individuals to handling in captivity. The aim of this study was to establish hematological and serum biochemistry parameters of clinically healthy animals of the Alouatta guariba clamitans subspecies. Methods:We collected blood samples from adult males and females kept at the Center for Biological Research of Indaial after chemical containment with 3.9 mg/kg of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam.Results: Significant differences between males and females were found in the levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). Conclusions: Our results suggest the existence of sexual dimorphism in some physiological parameters of A guariba clamitans. The parameters reported herein can be used as reference values for other populations kept under similar conditions. K E Y W O R D S Alouatta guariba clamitans, blood biochemistry, electrophoresis, hematology, neotropical primates, reference values, serum proteinogram How to cite this article: Gonçalves GHP, de Souza Junior JC, Pitz HS, Peruchi AR, Branco FS, Hirano ZMB. Hematological and serum biochemistry data on southern brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) in captivity in Brazil. J Med Primatol. 2019;48:313-319. https ://doi.

Effect of age and sex in renal function by ultrasound and serum chemistry in two primate species (Alouatta caraya and Sapajus apella)

“…This hypothesis is supported by the species differences in RBC count in the present work and in a previous study in wild populations 57 that showed higher RBC count in Sapajus lidibinosus compared to A. caraya. Although we were unable to compare RBC count between sexes due to heteroscedacity, previous studies have reported a greater RBC count in males than females in innumerous primate species, including S. apella, 58 S. lidibinosus, 59 Alouatta guariba clamitans, 60 A. azarae infulatus 10 and S. collinsi. 11 These sex differences have been associated with the stimulatory effect of testosterone on erythropoiesis, and the inhibitory effect of estrogen.…”

Serum biochemistry panel of free‐living red‐handed howler monkeys (Alouatta belzebul) in the Eastern Amazon

“…We sampled animals that appeared healthy and that required management actions in captivity for biometric data collection, tagging, and translocation. After overnight fasting (12–14 h), we restrained these individuals physically and immediately anesthetized them with an intramuscular combination of tiletamine‐zolazepam (Zoletil 50 ® , Virbac, Brazil; 3.6 mg/kg) 20 . Subsequently, we subjected each individual to a complete physical examination by palpation, inspection (body mass and rectal temperature), and auscultation of the cardiorespiratory system 21 .…”

Integrated approaches to howler monkey (Alouatta spp.) medicine in professional care and conservation

“…Disease surveillance work can help detect new outbreaks and monitor the direction in which such outbreaks move, as well as host expansion, and also is a key aspect of managing ex-situ populations of Alouatta within a One Conservation framework (5,7). Disease surveillance can occur through serology and molecular biology for specific diseases, coprology, necropsies, overall health evaluation with extensive clinical data collection, and in conjunction with ongoing behaviors studies which can be combined with data available for human populations (4)(5)(6)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”

“…Baseline research on biochemical and hematological values in wild howler monkeys is needed to assess population health and the impact of anthropogenic activities, this has been done in Mexico, French Guiana, and Brazil ( 10 – 13 ). Similarly, possible lead poisoning due to anthropogenically driven habitat loss has been evaluated in Mexico ( 40 ) which deserves investigation in other countries in the natural range of howlers.…”

“…Several studies have proved the inextricable link between human and howler monkey health and disease in their natural range countries ( 2 – 4 , 14 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 34 ) as well as the need of integration of the study of wildlife, human and domestic animal health. A modern all-inclusive wildlife medicine approach involving veterinarians, biologists, animal behavior experts, mathematicians, ecologists, experts in human health, and social and economic sciences collaborating for conservation ( 5 , 13 , 38 ) is urgent for the conservation of Neotropical non-human primates. This is how the concept of One Conservation is defined: integrating research in wild and in managed populations within the framework of a host of human and environmental factors ( 7 ).…”