The mycoflora of the subhuman primates

Summary Culture studies revealed that 54.3 % of 70 mouth samples and 15.1 % of 371 throat samples from captive male and female baboons contained yeasts.Candida albicans was found to be the highest single species isolated from the oral cavity of both sexes, with the exception ofTrichosporon, which was slightly higher in the mouths of female baboons.There is a slight indication that the yeast flora of the female oral cavity is higher than that of the male. Similarly, there is a close parallelism between the oral mycoflora of human beings and that of the baboons studied.     

The mycoflora of the subhuman primates

Summary For documentation of the mycoflora of the baboon, 127 vaginal and 165 rectal swabs were taken from males and females in captivity. A total of 176 and 171 yeast isolates were obtained from the vagina and rectum respectively. Candida was found to be the yeast most frequently found in both of these sites.C. albicans formed 14.6 % of the rectal yeasts and 7.9 % of the vaginal yeasts.No significant differences were found between the rectal isolates from the males and those from the females in the baboons. Furthermore, there is a strong indication that the mycoflora of both the rectum and the vagina of the baboon is similar to that of human beings, from both a qualitative and a quantitative point of view.This study was supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grant 5-R01-HE-3834-07.     

The mycoflora of the subhuman primates

Summary Swabs were collected from both nose and ear of a total of 105 male and female baboons. Samples were collected within 72 hours after the arrival of the animal from Kenya, and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months thereafter. Similarly contents from large and small intestines of 29 sacrificed captive baboons and 162 free-living animals were studied for their yeast flora.A total of 505 and 588 yeast isolates were obtained from the ear and nose respectively. The intestinal contents, yielded a total of 109 isolates. The total yeast indices of the ear and nose were very similar quantitatively, and much higher than either of the small or large intestinal contents indices.There was no significant differences of mycological flora collected from females and males.     

The reproductive cycle of the gelada baboon

Changes in the visual appearance of the sexual skins of female Theropithecus gelada associated with different stages of the reproductive cycle and with age are analysed using data from a large sample of females in the wild. Changes associated with the oestrous cycle and with pregnancy and birth are confirmed by a more detailed study of particular individuals. These signals are compared with those reported for other primate species. The behaviour of females during the course of the oestrous cycle is examined and compared with that reported for other species of Papio baboons.     

The normal microbial flora of the baboon vagina.

The microbial flora of the upper vagina and cervix was examined in 38 adult baboons at various stages of the menstrual cycle. The mean number of different species isolated from each baboon was 9.5, with species of Bacteroides, Corynebacterium and group D streptococci predominating. Lactobacilli and mycoplasmas were found in 47.4 and 44.7% of the animals, respectively. No ureaplasms were isolated. Cyclical variations in the microbial flora were minimal.     

The distribution of baboon species and a new population of gelada baboons along the Wabi-Shebeli river,Ethiopia

We conducted an extensive survey in search of hybrid baboons betweenPapio hamadryas andP. anubis along the Wabi-Shebeli river at the border of the Arusi and Bale Regions, Ethiopia. We made inquiries of villagers on the roadsides concerning the existence of baboon species. We also conducted direct observations at several sites. There are three routes which lead to the north bank of the Wabi-Shebeli river (Arusi Region), and we found hybrid baboons on the bank of the Wabi-Shebeli river in two routes among the three. We found hamadryas baboons in all of the three routes at the cliff areas. There are two routes which lead to the south bank of the Wabi-Shebeli river (Bale Region). We conducted a survey on one of the two. We found hamadryas baboons at the cliff areas of the route. We observed a population of gelada baboons along the cliff extending over 20 km along the north bank of the Wabi-Shebeli river (Arusi Region). This area is far to the south of the known distribution range of gelada baboons (Yalden et al., 1977). The gelada baboons of this area appeared to represent a different form (subspecies?) from those at Debre Sina (Showa Region) based on our observations in both areas. We reached the conclusion that the distributions of baboon species along the Wabi-Shebeli river may have been strongly affected by the intensive cultivation on the plateau of the highland. The distribution patterns of the three baboon species,P. anubis, P. hamadryas, andTheropithecus gelada, appeared to be influenced by their individual adaptabilities to the cliff environment. Hamadryas baboons were distributed continuously along the cliff and the narrow lowland of the Wabi-Shebeli river. Anubis baboons were distributed discontinuously on the cliffs, and their populations tended to be small and isolated. These anubis baboons were strongly hybridized with hamadryas baboons.     

Short-term effects of aflatoxin B1 on serum lipids in subhuman primates.

Aflatoxin B1 significantly depressed serum lipid levels in specimens of Cercopithecus aethiops, Cercopithecus mona, Erythrocebus patas and Papio anubis. Serum cholesterol, total phospholipids and total lipids were not affected to the same extent.     

The skin of primates. XLIV. Numerical taxonomy of primate skin

Data on 84 characteristics of the skin of 36 species of primates were extracted from a series of articles describing the histological and histochemical properties of the skin of primates. The data were subjected to a cluster analysis. The results were in reasonably good agreement with orthodox primate taxonomies although some exceptions were apparent. The species clustered into four main groups approximately comparable to Prosimii, Cercopithecoidea, Ceboidea, and Hominoidea. The internal arrangements of the Prosimii, Cercopithecoidea, and Hominoidea are commensurate with standard taxonomic practice. Within the Ceboidea, however, the Atelinae and Alouattinae tend to group with the Hominoidea, Aotus and Saimiri show variable placements, and Callimico groups with the Callithricidae.     

The skin of primates. 33. The skin of the Angwantibo (Arctocebus calabarensis)

The general behavior, locomotion, and body from of the angwantibo resemble those of Loris and Nycticebus. Its skin, however, is similar to that of Pottos and Galagos; singular among the similarities is the occurrence of alkaline phosphatase-positive dendritic cells in the epidermis. The presence of elongated, sausageshaped end-organs in the mucocutaneous region, the absence of arrector pili muscle, and the absence of alkaline phosphatase in the hair follicle nerve end-organs are distinctive features of angwantibos. These animals have a well-formed, complete nictitating membrane, thereby differing from all other primates studied.     

Control, choice, and assessments of the value of behavioral management to nonhuman primates in captivity

Many people have devoted considerable effort to enhancing the environments of nonhuman primates in captivity. There is substantial motivation to develop experimental, analytical, and interpretational frameworks to enable objective measurements of the value of environmental enrichment/behavioral management efforts. The consumer-demand approach is a framework not frequently implemented in studies of nonhuman primate welfare but profitably used in studies of the welfare of nonhuman animals in agriculture. Preference studies, in which primates can voluntarily choose to socialize or to participate in training, may be the best current examples of a consumer-demand-like approach to assessing the effects of captive management strategies on primate welfare. Additional work in this area would be beneficial; however, there are potential ethical constraints on purposefully subjecting primates to adverse circumstances to measure their demand for a resource. Primate welfare researchers need to design consumer-demand studies with obstacles that will help measure the relative value of resources to captive primates without compromising the welfare they are attempting to evaluate and enhance.     

The skin of primates. 38. The skin of the red uacari (Cacajao rubicundus)

The skin of the red uacari (Cacajao rubicundus) is characterized by distinctive traits. Pigmentation of both the epidermis and dermis in juvenile animals resembles a similar condition recorded in adult Callithricidae. Extensive capillary sinuses pervade the upper dermis of the face, ears, forehead, and frontal scalp. Hederiform nerve endings are common in the face and scalp, as are papillary nerve endorgans in the volar friction surfaces; both are reactive for specific and pseudocholinesterase. A general diminution in size of hair follicles and a retarded generative cycle contribute to the phenomenon of “baldness” in the forehead and scalp of mature animals. Apocrine glands are quantitatively diminished over the dorsum. Eccrine sweat glands, confined to the palmar and plantar friction surfaces, are poorly differentiated; all secretory cells contain glycogen.