Pathology in the Darajani baboon

Abstract

The loss of teeth from attrition may limit the life span of free-ranging Darajani baboons. A high frequency of fractures is presumably the result of falls that occur in chases or flights. The pattern of broken bones emphasizes the digits, the trunk, the face, and the lower limb. Such injuries affect virtually all individuals who survive to a relatively old age. Arthritic-like changes in the skeleton frequently occur in the vertebral column and may reduce the baboon's speed and agility in flight. They have remarkable abilities to survive severe wounds, even amputations, as long as such wounds are clean. Numerous diseases and parasites infect the animals and those who survive must cope with repeated infection. Many of these pathogens affect the individual at the same time and each reduces the likelihood of survival. The brief life expectancy of the individual magnifies the genetic contribution of older animals to the group if the individual is of suitable position in dominance and central hierarchy.The results of disease and injuries unquestionably have long been important factors in primate evolution. Osteological pathology in primates is frequently treated as a curious but not particularly useful aspect of evolution, because bone reactions to disease are often non-specific and difficult to diagnose. Comprehensive surveys of paleopathology by Moodie ('23) and Sigerist ('51 ) emphasize clinical descriptions of pathology from the fossil and archeological records. The major result of such surveys is an appreciation of the antiquity of injury and disease among vertebrates. In his review of paleapathology for Anthropology Today, Ackernecht ('53) stresses that pathology yields more than medical information -that it reflects the general conditions and growth of society and therefore offers clues about societies of the past. Wells ('64) places pathology in the context in which it is used in this study, describing it as an expression of response to stress in environment and behavior. From this point of view the investigator who seeks knowledge of how primates respond to "the aggression of their environment" (Wells, '64) will find a wealth of data in pathology.Yet an exhaustive examination of the fossil record yields only fragmentary data on pathology and these data are subject to conflicting interpretations. It is therefore very useful to seek additional information by looking at living primate popu-AM. J. PHYs. ANTHROP., 26: 331-340.

The effect of substrate compliance on the biomechanics of gibbon leaps

“…In this case that represents a 43% reduction in leap distance, whereas if the leap was 4 m [mean wild-siamang leap distance (Fleagle, 1976)] instead of the 1 m used here, the leap would be reduced by ~12% [(3.38/3.83)ϫ100]. However, even this reduction could be considered significant when a fall could result in serious injury or death (Schultz, 1956;Bramblett, 1967;Buikstra, 1975;Lovell, 1987).…”

“…Even on familiar routes (during travel arboreal primates often follow specific routes or 'jungle highways') (McClure, 1964), branch material properties may be highly dependent on foliage, water content or interaction with other trees (McMahon and Kronauer, 1976). Because a mistake could result in serious injury or death (Schultz, 1956;Bramblett, 1967;Buikstra, 1975;Lovell, 1987), it seems probable that rapidly moving arboreal animals possess some mechanism(s) for coping with the perturbation effects (unexpected or otherwise) of compliant substrates. Data on arboreal animals dealing with such perturbation is lacking but the problem is undoubtedly real.…”

Erosive arthritis and spondyloarthropathy in old world primates

“…"Articular changes" and "arthritis deformans" have been reported in Dynastic Egyptian and contemporary monkeys (Bramblett, 1968;Bywaters, 1981;Driesch, 1985;Ford et al, 1986;Fox, 1939). Did these animals actually have spondyloarthropathy?…”

A search for principles of disability using experimental impairment of Drosophila melanogaster

“…For example, the results of studies of wear-and-tear in insects are considered largely in the context of either aging theory [1][2][3] or age-determination technology [4][5][6][7], and only rarely in the context of fitness [8][9][10]. The literature on impairments in nonhuman vertebrates includes studies concerned with healed fractures [11,12], degenerative joint disease [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], broken teeth and horns [21][22][23], and either diversionary [24][25][26], compensatory [27,28], or infirmity-elicited [29,30] behaviors. But there are no papers in the ecology, behavior and evolution literature that attempt to either generalize concepts or unify the field.…”