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Pathology of captive moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax)
Alfonso S Gozalo1, Lily I Cheng, Marisa E St Claire
1Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. gozaloa@niaid.nih.gov
Abstract:
The pathology of 33 moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) previously used in hepatitis A and GB virus studies is reported. Chronic lesions in colon, heart, and kidney were common in the monkeys and appeared not to be due to the experimental exposures. Colitis cystica profunda (CCP), a disease that affects humans and is characterized by the presence of mucin-filled epithelial downgrowths and cysts in the colonic submucosa, was found in 24 of the 33 (72.7%) tamarins. Interstitial myocardial fibrosis was present in 22 (66.6%) animals, and various degrees of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis occurred in 28 (84.8%) monkeys. In addition, 28 (84.8%) tamarins demonstrated diffuse hepatocellular vacuolation with mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, possibly as a result of the experimental infections, and peliosis hepatis occurred in 7 (21.2%) animals. The etiology of CCP is unknown, and no reliable animal models are available because most cases in animals are reported only sporadically. Myocardial fibrosis in tamarins has not been reported previously, and all current animal models require experimental manipulation of the animal to mimic the human disease. The results from this study suggest that captive S. mystax has high incidence of spontaneous CCP, myocardial fibrosis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. This species may be a spontaneous animal model for pathogenesis and experimental therapy studies of the analogous human diseases.
Insights
Moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) exhibit high rates of spontaneous colitis cystica profunda, myocardial fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis. These findings suggest tamarins may serve as a valuable animal model for studying these human diseases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Primate Models
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Chronic lesions in the colon, heart, and kidney were observed in moustached tamarins.
- Colitis cystica profunda (CCP) is a human disease with unknown etiology and limited animal models.
- Myocardial fibrosis in tamarins is previously unreported, and existing animal models require manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the pathology of moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax) post-hepatitis A and GB virus studies.
- To investigate spontaneous diseases in captive Saguinus mystax.
- To assess the potential of Saguinus mystax as an animal model for human diseases.
Main Methods:
- Pathological examination of 33 moustached tamarins.
- Histopathological analysis of colon, heart, kidney, and liver tissues.
- Evaluation of lesions for potential links to experimental exposures.
Main Results:
- High incidence of spontaneous Colitis Cystica Profunda (72.7%) in tamarins.
- Significant rates of interstitial myocardial fibrosis (66.6%) and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (84.8%).
- Hepatocellular vacuolation (84.8%) and peliosis hepatis (21.2%) were also noted.
Conclusions:
- Captive Saguinus mystax demonstrate a high incidence of spontaneous CCP, myocardial fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis.
- This species may represent a valuable spontaneous animal model for human CCP, myocardial fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis.
- Further research can explore pathogenesis and experimental therapies using this primate model.
