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Conjoined twins in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).
D Canfield1, L Brignolo, P E Peterson
1California Regional Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Journal of Medical Primatology
|February 13, 2001
Summary
This report details a rare case of conjoined rhesus monkey twins, connected at the umbilical region. The nonviable twins exhibited normal morphology apart from liver lobe enlargement at the attachment site.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Primatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Conjoined twinning is a rare congenital anomaly in both human and nonhuman primates.
- Understanding the developmental processes and outcomes of such anomalies is crucial for reproductive biology.
Observation:
- A case of minimally conjoined omphalopagus rhesus monkey twins was observed.
- The twins were full-term but nonviable, male, and united at the umbilical region.
Findings:
- The twins were joined at the liver, xiphoid, umbilicus, body wall, and skin.
- Separate umbilical cords, each with two arteries and a vein, were closely aligned and inserted into a bidiscoid placenta.
- No gross or histologic abnormalities were found, except for enlarged left central liver lobes at the attachment site.
Implications:
- This case contributes to the limited understanding of conjoined twinning in nonhuman primates.
- Provides insights into the anatomical variations and placental structures associated with primate conjoined twins.
- Highlights the importance of careful monitoring during parturition in cases of multiple gestations in primates.