Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus): Hematologic reference values and hemopathologic responses

Hematologic reference values have been established for captive adult cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) by carrying out full blood counts and fibrinogen estimation on 43 clinically normal animals. Females were shown to have significantly lower hemoglobin levels, red cell counts and packed cell volumes, and higher reticulocyte counts than males. The reference values were used to identify abnormal changes in the blood of 13 clinical cases. Marked neutrophilia was found in animals with localized bacterial infections, and a degenerative left shift was recorded in an individual with streptococcal septicemia. Three cases of unexplained progressive muscle wasting showed Heinz body anemia and abnormal white cell changes. These hematologic responses have been compared where possible with those recorded in other species of Callithricidae.