Normal hematologic values in the cynomolgus monkeys aged from 1 to 18 years

Normal hematological values including erythrocyte count (RBC), hematocrit value (Ht), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), total leucocyte count (WBC), and differential leucocyte count were determined with 206 healthy cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) aged in 1 to 18 years. These animals were born and reared at Tsukuba Primate Center for Medical Science, NIH, Japan. Additionally, 32 cynomolgus monkeys of wild origin estimated to be 5 or more years old were examined for their hematology. The presence or absence of sex- and age-related differences in the values was statistically analysed. As regards infant and juvenile monkeys, there were no significant differences in RBC, Ht and Hb between males and females. However, these values became significantly larger in males than in females after sexual maturation. Lymphocyte count was larger than neutrophil count until 3 to 4 years of age after birth, but this relation was inverted in adult monkeys aged more than 5 years. Segmentation of the nucleus was a prominent finding in neutrophils. Neither sex- nor age-related difference in the number of nuclear segmentation was noted.     

Age and gender related changes in hematological parameters of thoroughbred foals

Abstract

Hematological and biochemical profiles commonly are required in equine medicine. We studied hematological parameters including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (PCV), differential leukocyte counts, mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in thoroughbred foals at different ages and for both sexes. Sixty healthy thoroughbred foals, 1 day, 3 days and 1 year old were used. Each age group consisted of 10 male and 10 female animals. We found significant differences related to age in RBC values of females, PCV, MCV values of males, WBC, neutrophil percentages, lymphocyte percentages, monocyte percentages of females, and eosinophil percentages and basophil percentages. Significant differences related to gender were found only with regard to PCV at 1 year and WBC at 1 day. The hematological parameters of thoroughbred foals up to one year old may be useful for evaluating and monitoring the health of these animals.     

Changes in hematologic values in 11 months after birth in the cynomolgus monkeys

Changes in hematological values were studied with 131 healthy cynomolgus monkeys aged less than 11 months. The parameters measured were erythrocyte count (RBC), hematocrit value (Ht), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), total leucocyte count (WBC), and differential leucocyte count. No remarkable change was found with RBC during the whole period of this study. Relatively high values were obtained with Ht, MCV, and Hb in the newborns aged 0 to 7 days. These values continued to decrease until 3 months of age, after which the values increased again attaining approximately adult levels at 11 months of age. WBC was very high at birth and then decreased to the minimum level at 3 days of age. It was followed by gradual increase until about 4 months of age at which a nearly adult level was attained. Lymphocyte counts were smaller than neutrophil counts on the day of birth. However, this numerical relation was inverted 2 days after birth and the lymphocyte counts became markedly larger than the neutrophil counts about 1 week after birth. Additionally, the values obtained from the cord blood of 6 Cesarean-delivered newborns were compared with those from the blood taken 5 hours after cesarean delivery.     

Ethogram of Celebes monkeys (Macaca nigra) in two captive habitats

A well-composed and stable group of Celebes monkeys in captivity (one dominant adult male, one sub-adult male, three juvenile males, three adult females, and two juvenile females; housed together for several years) were studied in three successive 10-week periods. The first two periods consisted of a preliminary study and replication of the animals' behaviors while in a large cage enclosure. In the third period, observations were gathered on the same animals while they were on a simulated island to which they had been permanently moved. The study was designed to obtain an ethogram on the monkeys as well as to compare their social behaviors in these two captive environments. With respect to the latter, the acquisition of an acculturated social behavior involving a water-filled moat surrounding their new island environment was observed.     

Platelet serotonin levels and gonadal hormones in rats

The role of gonadal hormones in the control of platelet serotonin levels was studied by evaluating the effect of sexual maturation in rats of both sexes and the time-course of changes following gonadectomy performed either prepubertally or on sexually mature animals. In males, platelet serotonin levels remained fairly stable during sexual maturation as well as during the whole postgonadectomy period monitored (four months). In females, somewhat higher values of platelet serotonin levels in adult than in sexually immature animals were found (9%, p less than 0.001, N = 34). A slight decrease of platelet serotonin (10-18%, p less than 0.05) was observed following ovariectomy of sexually mature females, but it was of transient nature. When females were ovariectomized prepubertally a tendency towards permanently lower platelet serotonin levels was noticed. These results suggest that gonadal hormones have no major role in the control of platelet serotonin levels in rats, although a subtle hormonal modulation of this platelet variable in females may exist.     

Age-related hematological changes in normal F344 rats: during the neonatal period.

In order to clarify age-related changes in hematological values of normal rats after birth, blood samples from neonatal F344 rats of both sexes were examined periodically during the period from 0 to 40 days postpartum. The erythrocyte count (RBC) increased with time after birth as a function of age. In contrast, the reticulocyte count (Retics) continuously decreased with time after birth. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) tended to decrease after birth until weaning (about 21 days postpartum), but they began to increase after weaning. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) also gradually decreased after birth until weaning, but they were unchanged thereafter. The platelet count (PLT) gradually increased after birth and reached a plateau at weaning. Microscopic examination of blood smears revealed that erythrocytes at birth had characteristic morphological features such as anisocytosis, polychromasia, basophilic stippling, Howell-Jolly body, and erythroblastosis. These characteristic features, however, disappeared by 30 days after birth. The total leukocyte count (WBC) gradually increased with time after birth, due to an increase in the number of lymphocytes. The lymphocyte count started to rapidly increase within several days after birth and the increase continued thereafter. Other differential leukocyte counts also showed various characteristic patterns of changes during the neonatal period. There were no apparent differences between males and females in these changes in hematological values.     

Hematological and plasma biochemical values of the greater glider in Australia

Reference hematological and plasma biochemical values are presented for the greater glider (Petauroides volans) at Tumut (southeastern New South Wales, Australia). Nineteen animals were sampled during a capture period of 1 wk in August 1999. Values for red cell counts were significantly higher in male animals (mean +/- SE; males: 5.6 +/- 0.1; females: 5.2 +/- 0.1). Young animals had higher white cell counts than older ones (mean +/- SE; young: 4.9 +/- 0.4; older: 2.8 +/- 0.4). Lymphocytes were the predominant white blood cell type in this species.     

CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE OF HARBOR SEALS IN MAINE, 1981–2001

Aerial counts of harbor seals ( Pboca vitulina concolor ) on ledges along the Maine coast were conducted during the pupping season in 1981, 1986, 1993, 1997, and 2001. Between 1981 and 2001, the uncorrected counts of seals increased from 10,543 to 38,014, an annual rate of 6.6 percent. In 2001 30 harbor seals were captured and radio-tagged prior to aerial counts. Of these, 19 harbor seals (six adult males, two adult females, seven juvenile males, and four juvenile females) were available during the survey to develop a correction factor for the fraction of seals not observed. The corrected 2001 abundance estimate was 99,340 harbor seals. Productivity in this population has increased since 1981 from 6.4% pups to 24.4% pups. The number of gray seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) counted during the harbor seal surveys increased from zero in both 1981 and 1986 to 1,731 animals in 2001.     

The Influence of Body Mass Index,Age and Sex on Inflammatory Disease Risk in Semi-Captive Chimpanzees

Obesity and ageing are emerging issues in the management of captive primates, including Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. Studies on humans show that obesity and old age can independently increase the risk of inflammatory-associated diseases indicated by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cells and proteins in the blood of older or obese compared to levels in younger or non-obese individuals. In humans, sex can influence the outcomes of these risks. Health management of these problems in chimpanzee populations requires an understanding of similarities and differences of factors influencing inflammatory disease risks in humans and in chimpanzees. We examined the relationship between age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) with hematological biomarkers of inflammatory disease risk established for humans which include the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil, white blood cell (WBC), platelet microparticle and platelet counts. We found that higher values of NLR, neutrophil count and platelet microparticle count were associated with higher BMI values and older age indicating increased inflammation risk in these groups; a similar pattern to humans. There was a strong sex by age interaction on inflammation risk, with older males more at risk than older females. In contrast to human studies, total WBC count was not influenced by BMI, but like humans, WBC and platelet counts were lower in older individuals compared to younger individuals. Our findings are similar to those of humans and suggest that further insight on managing chimpanzees can be gained from extensive studies of ageing and obesity in humans. We suggest that managing BMI should be an integral part of health management in captive chimpanzee populations in order to partially reduce the risk of diseases associated with inflammation. These results also highlight parallels in inflammation risk between humans and chimpanzees and have implications for understanding the evolution of inflammation related diseases in apes.     

Hematological and serum chemistry profiles of free-ranging southern two-toed sloths in French Guiana.

Free-ranging southern two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus) were translocated during the flooding of a forest at a hydroelectric dam site in French Guiana. Over an 11 mo period blood samples were collected from 90 sloths (38 males, 52 females) in order to determine hematological and serum chemistry reference values. Mean values and range of values were calculated for 13 hematological and 21 serum chemistry parameters. Variations associated with sex, age and reproductive status were identified. Males had a significantly lower red blood cell count than females. Immature animals had more monocytes while adults had more neutrophils and higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Aspartate aminotransferase and triglyceride values were higher in young than in adult sloths but uric acid was lower. Lactating females showed lower red blood cells count and iron levels than non-lactating females. These profiles will help to provide reliable baseline data for medical evaluation of sloths.     

The growth of the freshwater crayfish A ustropotamobius pallipes in Northumbria

SUMMARY. Growth increments, moult frequency and growth rates of individuals in a population of the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes were followed for a period of 3 years during a mark-recapture study. There was an inverse relationship between body size and the growth increment relative to body size. The absolute increment increased from the juvenile to the young adult stage and thereafter declined with increasing body size.
Differences between the adult male, reproductive female, non-reproductive female and juvenile subpopulations in the size of growth increments are reported and growth increments during the two major moult periods of each year are compared. The effect of the endoparasite Thelohania contejeani and of chela regeneration was to reduce slightly the growth increments.
Instantaneous growth rates declined throughout life in both sexes, but adult males maintained higher growth rates than adult females, particularly in the largest size class studied. The effect of reproduction on growth appeared to be most severe in the smallest breeding females. Males maintained the tendency to moult twice annually to a larger size than females. A simplified construction of the relationship between size and age in the population is presented for each sex. The oldest animals were estimated to be at least 11 years old.     

Hematological analyses of the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata)

Various hematological examinations were performed on a total of 208 Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata). One hundred and fifty-eight of the monkeys were originally from different habitats in the western part of Japan, where they existed as free-ranging animals. The remaining 50 monkeys were kept in an open-enclosure for about one year. Laboratory examinations on blood specimens included the following; the erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, the specific gravity of the blood and plasma, protein concentration of the plasma, SGO-T, SGP-T, A/G ratio and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Results were similar to those reported for otherMacaca species. When the data reported here was compared with the known values for man, the Japanese monkey showed lower values for the erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and the specific gravity of the blood. Higher values were shown for the leukocyte count and SGO-T activity, with a wider overall range of variation.     

Hematological and serum biochemical effects of nursing on the mother in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)]

The effects of nursing on maternal hematological and serum biochemical values were analyzed in cynomolgus monkeys reared in indoor cages at Tsukuba Primate Center. In our breeding system, infants are usually separated from their mothers at the age of 121 to 180 days. Mother monkeys of such infants were studied hematologically and biochemically (Group B), as were mother monkeys who happened to have nursed their infants past 181 days after parturition (Group A). During the period with their infants, mother monkeys in the latter group showed lower white blood cell counts (WBC) and higher red blood cell counts (RBC), hematocrit values (Ht) and blood urea nitrogen concentrations (BUN) than the mother monkeys who had been separated from their infants. Also, serum calcium concentrations (Ca) were decreased with prolonged nursing periods, indicating that lactation by the mother monkey probably continues even for a period from 181 days to about one year after parturition if she nurses her infant. Lactation during this period may accelerate hematogenesis and protein metabolism in the mother monkey.     

Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 modulate hematological changes of individuals chronically exposed to natural sour gas

In order to find the effect of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and GSTT1 on hematological changes of individuals chronically exposed to natural sour gas, the present study was done. Study subjects (59 males, 55 females) were residents of contaminated areas of Masjid-i-Sulaiman (southwest of Iran). The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-based method. The multiple linear regression method was applied. There is significant association between GSTs genotypes and either hemoglobin (t=2.185, P=0.031) or hematocrit (t=2.454, P=0.016). Also there is weak association between GSTs genotypes and WBC counts (t=1.802, P=0.074). The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and WBC counts increased in individuals who had null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 compared to subjects with one or two active genes. Also the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit and WBC counts increased in persons with one active genotype compared to subjects who had two active genes. There is no significant association between neither platelet nor WBC differential parameters and GSTs genotypes.     

Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) social organization: Group structure

Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) social organization was studied at the Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia, for 12 months. Data were collected on one-male groups and all-male groups by using scan sampling and event sampling while following groups. Evening census surveys were also conducted. Proboscis monkeys were found to follow the typical Asian colobine pattern of one-male social groups, with extra-group males forming all-male groups. These groups appear stable, with few changes in membership. One-male groups appear to be “female bonded”; adult females direct affiliative behaviors towards their offspring and other adult females, not towards the male. Nearest-neighbor data indicate some peripheralization of juvenile animals.     

Proximal Spacing Between Individuals in a Group of Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) in Tinigua National Park, Colombia

I studied proximal spacing within a group of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) during 7 months at Parque Nacional Tinigua, Colombia. I collected a total of 1188 instantaneous samples on focal individuals, recording the number and age/sex class of individuals that were in contact with, <2 m from, <5 m from the focal animal. The results indicate that proximate spacing reflects social affinities and is related to mother–infant relationship and social grooming. Subadult females and adult males are the sex/age classes with the lowest number of individuals in proximity. There are low proximity between adult females and between adult males and high frequencies of nearness between mother and offspring. Associations between males and females were usually low, but in some cases males showed preferences for a given female. There was a relatively gradual increase in spacing between mothers and their offspring as they became older. Old juvenile males were associated chiefly with other males—mostly subadults—whereas juvenile females maintained some proximity only to their mothers. There are also differences in spacing behavior according to different activity types.     

Hematological and serum biochemical changes with age in term fetuses, offspring and dams in normal Sprague-Dawley rats]

Hematological and serum biochemical values of dams and offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats were measured during late gestation, lactation and postweaning. In dams, slightly low erythrocytic parameters, high platelets and high frequency of neutrophils were seen after parturition although WBC showed no marked changes. On Day 20 of gestation, glucose and triglycerides were extremely high and TP and albumin were low. These changes may be attributed to pregnancy or parturition. In fetuses on Day 20 of gestation and offspring immediately after birth, erythrocytes showed anisocytosis, polychromasia, basophilic stipplings and Howell-Jolly bodies and erythroblasts were found. RBC was low. MCV and MCH were extremely high, compared to adult erythrocyte levels. Hemoglobin and hematocrit slightly decreased before weaning. RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit increased with age and reached adult levels by Day 56. MCV and MCH values decreased, towards adult levels, until weaning. Platelets rapidly increased and reached adult levels before weaning. WBC increased after birth having higher counts in males than in females on Day 35 and thereafter. Glucose, TP and albumin increased with age and reached adult levels by Day 28. ALP was high in fetuses and changed with age having two peaks similar to those reported in man. Cholesterols gradually increased after birth and had a peak on Day 14. Urea nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus and calcium were slightly high in fetuses and preweaned offspring. Potassium was high in fetuses but no age-related trends were seen in offspring.     

Hematologic values of normal Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): a comparison between wild-caught and laboratory-bred male animals

Complete and differential blood counts were conducted on 23 male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) of Bolivian origin. The sample included 9 laboratory-bred and 14 wild-caught adult monkeys weighing between 600 and 1,500 g. The means of total white blood cell (WBC) counts, total hemoglobin and hematocrits of laboratory-bred animals were found to be significantly different from those of wild-caught monkeys (p less than 0.01). Other hematologic parameters showed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. 3 of 14 (21.0%) wild-caught animals each had 1 reactive lymphocyte and 7% of the same group had 10 nucleated erythrocytes per 100 WBC. No reactive lymphocytes or nucleated erythrocytes were observed in laboratory-bred animals. The importance of these baseline data and the basis for the differences observed between laboratory and wild-caught monkeys are discussed within the context of experimental studies involving primates in which hematologic parameters are valuable.     

Hematology of a Semi-Free-Ranging Colony of Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)

We examined hematological parameters for a semifree-ranging population of mandrills to investigate the influence of age and sex, and to establish normative values for age-sex classes. We also investigated the influence of the reproductive cycle on hematological parameters in females and the influence of seasonality on both sexes. We examined hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, white cell count, red cell count, hematocrit, mean cell volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and differential white cell counts, with a total of 459 observations. Red cell counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are significantly lower in females than in males, while female white cell counts are significantly higher. Platelet and white cell counts both decreased with age, while MCV and MCHC (males only) increased with age. Absolute lymphocyte counts also decreased with age. Female reproductive status had little effect on hematology, but melengestrol acetate contraceptive implants resulted in significant increases in hemoglobin, white cell count, red cell count, and hematocrit. Finally, lymphocyte counts increased significantly during the wet season in comparison with dry months, which may be related to increased parasite infection during the wet season. We compare our findings to those for other species, and discuss age-sex patterns in light of mandrill life history. Our results demonstrate the importance of including age-sex class, female reproductive status, and season in studies of hematology and will be useful in further studies of the colony.