Showing papers on "Primate published in 2020"
30 Mar 2020
TL;DR: Since December 2019, an outbreak of the Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) in Wuhan, China, has become a public health emergency of international concern.
Abstract: Background:
Since December 2019, an outbreak of the Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, has become a public health emergency of international concern. The high fatality of aged cases caused by SARS-CoV-2 was a need to explore the possible age-related phenomena with non-human primate models.
Methods:
Three 3-5 years old and two 15 years old rhesus macaques were intratracheally infected with SARS-CoV-2, and then analyzed by clinical signs, viral replication, chest X-ray, histopathological changes and immune response.
Results:
Viral replication of nasopharyngeal swabs, anal swabs and lung in old monkeys was more active than that in young monkeys for 14 days after SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Monkeys developed typical interstitial pneumonia characterized by thickened alveolar septum accompanied with inflammation and edema, notably, old monkeys exhibited diffuse severe interstitial pneumonia. Viral antigens were detected mainly in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages.
Conclusion:
SARS-CoV-2 caused more severe interstitial pneumonia in old monkeys than that in young monkeys. Rhesus macaque models infected with SARS-CoV-2 provided insight into the pathogenic mechanism and facilitated the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Key words:
pathogenicity; pneumonia; rhesus macaque model; SARS-CoV-2
223 citations
27 Oct 2020
TL;DR: This study shows that all apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), exhibit the same set of twelve key amino acid residues as human ACE2, and suggests that these primates are likely to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, whereas ACE2 gene sequences and protein-protein interaction models suggest reduced susceptibility for platyrrhines, tarsiers, lorisoids, and some lemurs.
Abstract: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has caused over a million human deaths and massive global disruption. The viral infection may also represent a threat to our closest living relatives, nonhuman primates. The contact surface of the host cell receptor, ACE2, displays amino acid residues that are critical for virus recognition, and variations at these critical residues modulate infection susceptibility. Infection studies have shown that some primate species develop COVID-19-like symptoms; however, the susceptibility of most primates is unknown. Here, we show that all apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), exhibit the same set of twelve key amino acid residues as human ACE2. Monkeys in the Americas, and some tarsiers, lemurs and lorisoids, differ at critical contact residues, and protein modeling predicts that these differences should greatly reduce SARS-CoV-2 binding affinity. Other lemurs are predicted to be closer to catarrhines in their susceptibility. Our study suggests that apes and African and Asian monkeys, and some lemurs, are likely to be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Urgent actions have been undertaken to limit the exposure of great apes to humans, and similar efforts may be necessary for many other primate species.
119 citations
TL;DR: This study suggests that apes and African and Asian monkeys, as well as some lemurs, are all likely to be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, representing a critical threat to their survival.
Abstract: The emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which in humans is highly infectious and leads to the potentially fatal disease COVID-19, has caused tens of thousands of deaths and huge global disruption. The viral infection may also represent an existential threat to our closest living relatives, the nonhuman primates, many of which have already been reduced to small and endangered populations. The virus engages the host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), through the receptor binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein. The contact surface of ACE2 displays amino acid residues that are critical for virus recognition, and variations at these critical residues are likely to modulate infection susceptibility across species. While infection studies have shown that rhesus macaques exposed to the virus develop COVID-19-like symptoms, the susceptibility of other nonhuman primates is unknown. Here, we show that all apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, and all African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), exhibit the same set of twelve key amino acid residues as human ACE2. Monkeys in the Americas, and some tarsiers, lemurs and lorisoids, differ at significant contact residues, and protein modeling predicts that these differences should greatly reduce the binding affinity of the ACE2 for the virus, hence moderating their susceptibility for infection. Other lemurs are predicted to be closer to catarrhines in their susceptibility. Our study suggests that apes and African and Asian monkeys, as well as some lemurs are all likely to be highly susceptible to SARSCoV-2, representing a critical threat to their survival. Urgent actions may be necessary to limit their exposure to humans.
55 citations
TL;DR: Testing rhesus monkeys on a vicarious reinforcement task before and after they sustained ACC lesions indicates that the primate ACC is necessary for acquisition of prosocial preferences from Vicarious reinforcement.
Abstract: A key feature of most social relationships is that we like seeing good things happen to others. Research has implicated the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in attaching value to social outcomes. For example, single neurons in macaque ACC selectively code reward delivery to the self, a partner, both monkeys, or neither monkey. Here, we assessed whether the ACC's contribution to social cognition is causal by testing rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on a vicarious reinforcement task before and after they sustained ACC lesions. Prior to surgery, actors learned that 3 different visual cues mapped onto 3 distinct reward outcomes: to self ("Self"), to the other monkey ("Other"), or to neither monkey ("Neither"). On each trial, actors saw a cue that predicted one of the 3 juice offers and could accept the offer by making a saccade to a peripheral target or reject the offer by breaking fixation. Preoperatively, all 6 actors displayed prosocial preferences, indicated by their greater tendency to give reward to Other relative to Neither. Half then received selective, bilateral, excitotoxic lesions of the ACC, and the other half served as unoperated controls. After surgery, all monkeys retained the social preferences they had demonstrated with the preoperatively learned cues, but this preference was reduced in the monkeys with ACC lesions. Critically, none of the monkeys in the ACC lesion group acquired social preferences with a new set of cues introduced after surgery. These data indicate that the primate ACC is necessary for acquisition of prosocial preferences from vicarious reinforcement.
46 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that humans and great apes, in particular the chimpanzee, exhibit an expanded and more complex occipital–temporal white matter system; additionally, in humans, the invasion of dorsal tracts into the temporal lobe provides a further specialization.
Abstract: The temporal association cortex is considered a primate specialization and is involved in complex behaviors, with some, such as language, particularly characteristic of humans. The emergence of these behaviors has been linked to major differences in temporal lobe white matter in humans compared with monkeys. It is unknown, however, how the organization of the temporal lobe differs across several anthropoid primates. Therefore, we systematically compared the organization of the major temporal lobe white matter tracts in the human, gorilla, and chimpanzee great apes and in the macaque monkey. We show that humans and great apes, in particular the chimpanzee, exhibit an expanded and more complex occipital-temporal white matter system; additionally, in humans, the invasion of dorsal tracts into the temporal lobe provides a further specialization. We demonstrate the reorganization of different tracts along the primate evolutionary tree, including distinctive connectivity of human temporal gray matter.
40 citations
TL;DR: This work demonstrates the existence of a putative high-level face processing network in marmosets and suggests this frontal network specialized for social face processing predates the separation between Platyrrhini and Catarrhini.
Abstract: In humans and macaque monkeys, socially relevant face processing is accomplished via a distributed functional network that includes specialized patches in frontal cortex. It is unclear whether a similar network exists in New World primates, who diverged ~35 million years from Old World primates. The common marmoset is a New World primate species ideally placed to address this question given their complex social repertoire. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a putative high-level face processing network in marmosets. Like Old World primates, marmosets show differential activation in anterior cingulate and lateral prefrontal cortices while they view socially relevant videos of marmoset faces. We corroborate the locations of these frontal regions by demonstrating functional and structural connectivity between these regions and temporal lobe face patches. Given the evolutionary separation between macaques and marmosets, our results suggest this frontal network specialized for social face processing predates the separation between Platyrrhini and Catarrhini.
28 citations
TL;DR: Characterizing actual susceptibility and potential for bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic transfer in savanna monkey populations may be an important consideration for controlling COVID-19 epidemics in communities with frequent human/non-human primate interactions that, in many cases, may have limited health infrastructure.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has devastated health infrastructure around the world Both ACE2 (an entry receptor) and TMPRSS2 (used by the virus for spike protein priming) are key proteins to SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, enabling progression to COVID-19 in humans Comparative genomic research into critical ACE2 binding sites, associated with the spike receptor binding domain, has suggested that African and Asian primates may also be susceptible to disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection Savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp) are a widespread non-human primate with well-established potential as a bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic agent due to high levels of human interaction throughout their range in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean To characterize potential functional variation in savanna monkey ACE2 and TMPRSS2, we inspected recently published genomic data from 245 savanna monkeys, including 163 wild monkeys from Africa and the Caribbean and 82 captive monkeys from the Vervet Research Colony (VRC) We found several missense variants One missense variant in ACE2 (X:14,077,550; Asp30Gly), common in Ch sabaeus, causes a change in amino acid residue that has been inferred to reduce binding efficiency of SARS-CoV-2, suggesting potentially reduced susceptibility The remaining populations appear as susceptible as humans, based on these criteria for receptor usage All missense variants observed in wild Ch sabaeus populations are also present in the VRC, along with two splice acceptor variants (at X:14,065,076) not observed in the wild sample that are potentially disruptive to ACE2 function The presence of these variants in the VRC suggests a promising model for SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine and therapy development In keeping with a One Health approach, characterizing actual susceptibility and potential for bi-directional zoonotic/anthroponotic transfer in savanna monkey populations may be an important consideration for controlling COVID-19 epidemics in communities with frequent human/non-human primate interactions that, in many cases, may have limited health infrastructure
21 citations
TL;DR: The findings show that basal primate morphological adaptations may have specifically facilitated improved locomotor performance in a fine-branch niche, rather than merely permitting access to the environment, and future adaptive hypotheses of primate origins should incorporate the import ofPrimate-like morphology on locomotorperformance as well.
17 citations
TL;DR: The results question a clear-cut link between brain size and cognitive skills, suggesting a more domain-specific distribution of cognitive abilities in primates, and indicate more continuity in cognitive abilities across primate lineages than previously thought.
Abstract: Primates have relatively larger brains than other mammals even though brain tissue is energetically costly. Comparative studies of variation in cognitive skills allow testing of evolutionary hypotheses addressing socioecological factors driving the evolution of primate brain size. However, data on cognitive abilities for meaningful interspecific comparisons are only available for haplorhine primates (great apes, Old- and New World monkeys) although strepsirrhine primates (lemurs and lorises) serve as the best living models of ancestral primate cognitive skills, linking primates to other mammals. To begin filling this gap, we tested members of three lemur species (Microcebus murinus, Varecia variegata, Lemur catta) with the Primate Cognition Test Battery, a comprehensive set of experiments addressing physical and social cognitive skills that has previously been used in studies of haplorhines. We found no significant differences in cognitive performance among lemur species and, surprisingly, their average performance was not different from that of haplorhines in many aspects. Specifically, lemurs' overall performance was inferior in the physical domain but matched that of haplorhines in the social domain. These results question a clear-cut link between brain size and cognitive skills, suggesting a more domain-specific distribution of cognitive abilities in primates, and indicate more continuity in cognitive abilities across primate lineages than previously thought.
16 citations
TL;DR: Comparisons of terrestrial behavior in white-faced capuchin monkeys living on two islands off the Pacific coast of Panama with the behavior of capuchins at three sites in central Panama with more intact predator communities support the long-standing hypothesis that predators constrain the exploitation of terrestrial niches by primates.
11 citations
TL;DR: Light is shed on epigenetic aging mechanisms in primates, and the potential influence of sex, as ten out of 739 sex related CpGs in primate species are located near 9 autosomal genes (including FAM217A, CDYL, POU3F2, and UHRF2).
Abstract: DNA methylation data have been successfully used to develop highly accurate estimators of age ("epigenetic clocks") in several mammalian species. With a view of extending epigenetic clocks to primates, we analyzed DNA methylation profiles from five primate species; Papio hamadryas (baboons), Callithrix jacchus (common marmoset), Chlorocebus sabaeus (vervet monkey), Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque), and Homo sapiens (human). From these we present here, a highly accurate primate epigenetic clock. This clock is based on methylation profiles of CpGs that are highly conserved and are located on a custom methylation array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). Furthermore, we carried out in-depth analysis of the baboon, as it is evolutionarily the closest primate to humans that can be employed in biomedical research. We present five epigenetic clocks for baboons (Olive-yellow baboon hybrid), one of which, the pan tissue epigenetic clock, was trained on seven tissue types (fetal cerebral cortex, adult cerebral cortex, cerebellum, adipose, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle) with ages ranging from late fetal life to 22.8 years of age. To facilitate translational capability, we constructed two dual-species, human-baboon clocks, whereby one measures ages of both species in units of years, while the other reports ages relative to the maximum lifespan of the species. Although the primate clock applies to all five primate species, the baboon-specific clocks exhibit only moderate age correlations with other primates. We also provide detailed gene and pathway analyses of individual CpGs that relate to age and sex across different primate species. Ten out of 739 sex related CpGs in primate species are located near 9 autosomal genes (including FAM217A, CDYL, POU3F2, and UHRF2). Overall, this study sheds light on epigenetic aging mechanisms in primates, and the potential influence of sex.
TL;DR: A revised version of the brainstem vocal pattern-generating network in marmoset monkeys is presented that is capable of responding to perturbing auditory stimuli with rapid modulatory changes of the acoustic call structure during ongoing calls.
TL;DR: The diversity of the cortical lateralization among primate species suggests that the sulcal asymmetry reflects the species-related specialization of the cerebral sulcal morphology and function, which is facilitated by evolutionary expansion in higher primates.
Abstract: The asymmetry of the cerebral sulcal morphology is particularly obvious in higher primates. The sulcal asymmetry in macaque monkeys, a genus of the Old World monkeys, in our previous studies and others is summarized, and its evolutionary significance is speculated. Cynomolgus macaques displayed fetal sulcation and gyration symmetrically, and the sulcal asymmetry appeared after adolescence. Population-level rightward asymmetry was revealed in the length of arcuate sulcus (ars) and the surface area of superior temporal sulcus (sts) in adult macaques. When compared to other nonhuman primates, the superior postcentral sulcus (spcs) was left-lateralized in chimpanzees, opposite of the direction of asymmetry in the ars, anatomically-identical to the spcs, in macaques. This may be associated with handedness: either right-handedness in chimpanzees or left-handedness/ambidexterity in macaques. The rightward asymmetry in the sts surface area was seen in macaques, and it was similar to humans. However, no left/right side differences were identified in the sts morphology among great apes, which suggests the evolutionary discontinuity of the sts asymmetry. The diversity of the cortical lateralization among primate species suggests that the sulcal asymmetry reflects the species-related specialization of the cortical morphology and function, which is facilitated by evolutionary expansion in higher primates.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: This paper sketches the classification, natural history knowledge, hunting, use, sociality, mythology, personhood, and eco-cosmology of primates among the Joti Amerindians of southern Venezuela.
Abstract: This paper sketches the classification, natural history knowledge, hunting, use, sociality, mythology, personhood, and eco-cosmology of primates among the Joti Amerindians of southern Venezuela. Primates and associated animals are important co-residents of the world inhabited by the Joti Amerindians of Venezuela. The cultural significance of monkeys stands out in a material sense, given their prominence in hunting and diet, and in an immaterial sense as they appear as key figures in Joti myth and ritual. The Joti are deeply familiar with six species of primate: Ateles belzebuth, Cebus olivaceus, Chiropotes chiropotes, Alouatta seniculus, Saimiri sciureus, and Aotus trivirgatus. Along with the procyonids, Potos flavus and Bassaricyon gabbii, this group of animals is recognized as a cognitively conspicuous yet formally unnamed taxonomic category. The Joti possess detailed knowledge of the morphology and natural history – e.g., social behavior, mating, food, and nesting – of each one. Monkeys are economically important as a source of meat, comprising approximately one third of the total weight of animals hunted. They are socially important as pets that share domestic space with people and as models of alterity to which people can compare and reflect upon their own social behaviors. Monkeys are common characters appearing in mythological narratives and the main protagonists in the creation of the current state of the cosmos, including animal species and their foods, and the human dependence on cultivated food plants. The spider monkey (uli jkwayo) is arguably the most salient monkey for the Joti from economic, social, and cosmological points of view. It is also the species judged to be the closest to humans in terms of its mental, physical, and cultural attributes. The Joti believe that the spider monkey, protected by his intangible self and spiritual master (jkyo aemo), plays an important role in the regulation of proper interspecies conduct and the maintenance of game populations.
TL;DR: The molecular mechanism of AluSz6 exonization of the ACTR8 gene is determined and its evolutionary and functional consequences in the crab-eating monkey are investigated and it is observed that the alternative transcripts were transcribed into new isoforms with C-terminus deletion, and in silico analysis showed that these isoforms do not have a destructive function.
Abstract: Alternative splicing (AS) generates various transcripts from a single gene and thus plays a significant role in transcriptomic diversity and proteomic complexity. Alu elements are primate-specific transposable elements (TEs) and can provide a donor or acceptor site for AS. In a study on TE-mediated AS, we recently identified a novel AluSz6-exonized ACTR8 transcript of the crab-eating monkey (Macaca fascicularis). In the present study, we sought to determine the molecular mechanism of AluSz6 exonization of the ACTR8 gene and investigate its evolutionary and functional consequences in the crab-eating monkey. We performed RT-PCR and genomic PCR to analyze AluSz6 exonization in the ACTR8 gene and the expression of the AluSz6-exonized transcript in nine primate samples, including prosimians, New world monkeys, Old world monkeys, and hominoids. AluSz6 integration was estimated to have occurred before the divergence of simians and prosimians. The Alu-exonized transcript obtained by AS was lineage-specific and expressed only in Old world monkeys and apes, and humans. This lineage-specific expression was caused by a single G duplication in AluSz6, which provides a new canonical 5′ splicing site. We further identified other alternative transcripts that were unaffected by the AluSz6 insertion. Finally, we observed that the alternative transcripts were transcribed into new isoforms with C-terminus deletion, and in silico analysis showed that these isoforms do not have a destructive function. The single G duplication in the TE sequence is the source of TE exonization and AS, and this mutation may suffer a different fate of ACTR8 gene expression during primate evolution.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, a qualitative approach to understand the cultural aspects, perception, and use of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus) by the Popoluca indigenous people in two localities (Los Mangos and Piedra Labrada) in the region of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico.
Abstract: Studying the relationship between culture, perception, and use of biodiversity allows understanding the reasons why people exercise an impact on other species and generates information to create culturally relevant conservation proposals. In this study, we applied a qualitative approach to understand the cultural aspects, perception, and use of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus) by the Popoluca indigenous people in two localities (Los Mangos and Piedra Labrada) in the region of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. We carried an ethnographic research conducting 46 semi-structured interviews (23 in each community). The findings suggest that howler monkeys are widely known in myths and popular beliefs. Spider monkeys have traditionally been used as medicine and pets and not as food or for economic purposes. Both species evoke positive emotions, and all the interviewees are interested in their conservation so that their children and future generations can “enjoy” them. People perceive that the main threat to primates is cattle ranching. Also, they believe that howler monkeys are more abundant than spider monkeys. These results can be used to promote regional primate conservation.
TL;DR: Capuchin monkeys were biased to select a denser food set over the same number of food items in a sparsely arranged set, and increased density of the larger food set facilitated discrimination performance in quantity comparisons with a true difference in set size.
Abstract: In the current work, we investigated whether capuchin monkeys preferred densely distributed resources to sparsely distributed resources in a 2-choice discrimination task with edible rewards. Capuchin monkeys were biased to select a denser food set over the same number of food items in a sparsely arranged set. Furthermore, increased density of the larger food set facilitated discrimination performance in quantity comparisons with a true difference in set size. These results align with previous studies demonstrating a preference for densely distributed food sets in infants and callitrichid primates, as well as previous evidence of a density bias among several rhesus macaques and capuchin monkeys in a computerized relative quantity discrimination task. Thus, the density bias appears to emerge across multiple domains and presentation formats for some primate species. The role of density in perceived numerosity by capuchin monkeys and other species as it pertains to the foraging domain is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
TL;DR: It is suggested that the results support the foraging hypothesis in macaque monkeys, which is hypothesized that preference for or avoidance of red color together with the context of such behavior may help to understand what the adaptive advantage leading to a rapid expansion of a gene for a second pigment in the long-wavelength region was.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: This chapter explores the uses, perceptions of, and interactions with monkeys by the Mapoyo, an indigenous society of Carib linguistic affiliation of the Middle Orinoco of Venezuela, and the role of registering traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in ethnoprimatological terms.
Abstract: This chapter explores the uses, perceptions of, and interactions with monkeys by the Mapoyo, an indigenous society of Carib linguistic affiliation of the Middle Orinoco of Venezuela. Historical references of ethnoprimatological interest registered by eighteenth-century chroniclers that visited that region are also examined. The Mapoyo identify and describe behaviorally and by their phenotypic characteristics four primate species. These primates are Guianan howler monkeys (Alouatta macconnelli), bearded sakis (Chiropotes chiropotes), wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus), and night monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus). Primates were hunted by the Mapoyo in the past and they kept monkeys as pets infrequently. They do not use any part of the monkey for medicinal purposes or in the production of material culture. Cosmologically, it is believed that capuchin monkeys originated as the transformation of a person who disobeyed the instructions given by a superior entity. Finally, a discussion is offered on the role of registering traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in ethnoprimatological terms, in light of the sensitivities surrounding the study of subjects (in this case, primates) in a changing historical continuum.
TL;DR: The results question a clear-cut link between brain size and cognitive skills, suggesting a more domain-specific distribution of cognitive abilities in primates, and indicate more continuity in cognitive abilities across primate lineages than previously thought.
Abstract: Primates have relatively larger brains than other mammals even though brain tissue is energetically costly. Comparative studies of variation in cognitive skills allow testing of evolutionary hypotheses addressing socioecological factors driving the evolution of primate brain size. However, data on cognitive abilities for meaningful interspecific comparisons are only available for haplorhine primates (great apes, Old- and New World monkeys) although strepsirrhine primates (lemurs and lorises) serve as the best living models of ancestral primate cognitive skills, linking primates to other mammals. To begin filling this gap, we tested members of three lemur species (Microcebus murinus, Varecia variegata, Lemur catta) with the Primate Cognition Test Battery, a comprehensive set of experiments addressing physical and social cognitive skills that has previously been used in studies of haplorhines. We found no significant differences in cognitive performance among lemur species and, surprisingly, their average performance was not different from that of haplorhines in many aspects. Specifically, lemurs overall performance was inferior in the physical domain but matched that of haplorhines in the social domain. These results question a clear-cut link between brain size and cognitive skills, suggesting a more domain-specific distribution of cognitive abilities in primates, and indicate more continuity in cognitive abilities across primate lineages than previously thought.
TL;DR: A disruption of species-typical development when squirrel monkey infants are reared in a nursery setting is suggested, with activity, orientation, and state control areas most affected, though experimental research is needed to determine if this is a causal relationship.
Abstract: Nursery rearing has well-known consequences for primate species. Relative to some other primate species, research has indicated a reduced impact of nursery rearing on squirrel monkeys, particularly in terms of rates, severity, and persistence of abnormal behavior. We administered the Primate Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment to 29 dam-reared and 13 nursery-reared squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis) at 2 and 6 weeks of age. Mixed-model ANOVAs comparing composite scores and individual assessment items across age, rearing status, and sex revealed a number of developmental differences. Dam-reared infants scored higher on all four composite measures compared to nursery-reared infants (p < .05) indicating that nursery-reared animals had slower motor development, were less active and attentive, and were more passive than their dam-reared counterparts. Consistent with infant rhesus macaques, nursery-reared squirrel monkeys showed an increased sensitivity to tactile stimulation (p < .05). Altogether, these results suggest a disruption of species-typical development when squirrel monkey infants are reared in a nursery setting, with activity, orientation, and state control areas most affected, though experimental research is needed to determine if this is a causal relationship. Contrary to previous behavioral research, there are likely developmental differences between dam-reared infant squirrel monkeys and those reared in a nursery setting.
02 Jul 2020
TL;DR: RP testing and partial sequencing of 95 archived faecal samples from other squirrel monkeys housed at the KCCMR revealed the presence of three distinct, and apparently endemic species of adenoviruses, suggesting that squirrel monkeys may be the natural host of the TMAdV.
Abstract: Adenoviruses are a frequent cause of acute upper respiratory tract infections that can also cause disseminated disease in immunosuppressed patients. We identified a novel adenovirus, squirrel monkey adenovirus 1 (SqMAdV-1), as the cause of fatal infection in an immunocompromised squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) at the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research (KCCMR). Sequencing of SqMAdV-1 revealed that it is most closely related (80.4 % pairwise nucleotide identity) to the titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) adenovirus (TMAdV). Although identified in the titi monkey, TMAdV is highly lethal in these monkeys, and they are not thought to be the natural host. While SqMAdV-1 is similar to other primate adenoviruses in size and genomic characteristics, a nucleotide polymorphism at the expected stop codon of the DNA polymerase gene results in a 126 amino acid extension at the carboxy terminus, a feature not previously observed among other primate adenoviruses. PCR testing and partial sequencing of 95 archived faecal samples from other squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis and Saimiri sciureus) housed at the KCCMR revealed the presence of three distinct, and apparently endemic species of adenoviruses. A grouping of ten squirrel monkey adenovirus variants has high similarity to SqMAdV-1. A single adenovirus variant (designated SqMAdV-3), detected in five monkeys, has similarity to tufted capuchin (Sapajus apella) adenoviruses. The largest group of adenovirus variants detected (designated SqMAdV-2.0–2.16) has very high similarity (93–99 %) to the TMAdV, suggesting that squirrel monkeys may be the natural host of the TMAdV.
TL;DR: It is predicted that any primate species that exhibits precision grips and independent digit movement can perform compound grips, and whether and how tufted capuchin monkeys use onehand to hold one or more objects with multiple grips (compound grips) is predicted.
Abstract: An experimental study with captive individuals and study of video recordings of wild monkeys explored whether and how tufted capuchin monkeys use onehand to hold one or more objects with multiple grips (compound grips). A task designed to elicit compound grip was presented to five captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp). The monkeys held one to four balls in onehand and dropped the balls individually into a vertical tube. Multiple simple grips and independent digit movements enabled separate control of multiple objects in one hand. Monkeys always supported the wrist on the horizontal edge of the tube before releasing the ball. Increasing the number of balls decreased the likelihood that the monkeys managed the task. Wild bearded capuchins (Sapajus libidinosus) used compound grips spontaneously to store multiple food items. Compound grips have been described in macaques, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans, and now in a New World primate. We predict that any primate species that exhibits precision grips and independent digit movement can perform compound grips. Our findings suggest many aspects of compound grip that await investigation.
TL;DR: The comparative anatomy of the arteries in the forelimb of Macaca fuscata, along with the anatomical studies in other primates, indicated characteristic patterns of brachial artery division and the number of the palmar arches in primates, which is consistent with the phylogenetic division among New World primates, Old World chimpanzees, and apes.
Abstract: Macaca fuscata displays characteristic behaviours, such as stone handling, locomotor behaviour, gait position, and intermittent bipedalism. Differences in characteristic behaviours among primate species/genera could be explained by anatomical details of the body. However, the anatomical details have not been well studied in Macaca fuscata. Arterial models could be one of the anatomical bases for the phylogenetic and functional differences among species, since the arterial supply could be associated with the muscular performance, especially locomotor behaviour. In this study, five thoracic limbs of Macaca fuscata adults were dissected to analyse the vessels. Patterns of arterial distribution in the thoracic limbs of Macaca fuscata were compared with those in other primates. The results indicated that the arterial distribution in the Japanese monkeys was more similar to those in Macaca mulatta and Papio anubis, which is consistent with phylogenetic similarities. However, compared with Papio anubis and other macaques, there were anatomical differences in several points, including (1) the origin of the common, anterior, posterior circumflex, and profunda brachii, and (2) the origins of the collateralis ulnaris artery. The comparative anatomy of the arteries in the forelimb of Macaca fuscata, along with the anatomical studies in other primates, indicated characteristic patterns of brachial artery division and the number of the palmar arches in primates, which is consistent with the phylogenetic division among New World primates, Old World primates, and apes.
TL;DR: On-going efforts to uncover pinworm diversity will allow us to test the degree of host specificity and the co-phylogenetic hypothesis, as well as to further unravel the primate-pinworm evolutionary history puzzle.
Abstract: Pinworms of primates are believed to be highly host specific parasites, forming co-evolutionary associations with their hosts. In order to assess the strength and reach of such evolutionary links, we need to have a broad understanding of the pinworm diversity associated with primates. Here, we employed an integrative taxonomic approach to assess pinworm diversity in red howler monkeys in Colombia. Molecular and morphological evidence validate the presence of at least four different species of Trypanoxyuris occurring in red howler monkeys: T. minutus, a widely distributed species, and three new species, T. seunimiii n. sp., T. kemuimae n. sp. and T. kotudoi n. sp. The mitochondrial COI gene and the 28S ribosomal gene were used for phylogenetic assessments through Bayesian inference. The three new species were morphologically distinct and formed reciprocally monophyletic lineages. Further molecular lineage subdivision in T. minutus and T. kotudoi n. sp. without morphological correspondence, suggests the potential scenario for the existence of cryptic species. Phylogenetic relationships imply that the different species of Trypanoxyuris occurring in each howler monkey species were acquired through independent colonization events. On-going efforts to uncover pinworm diversity will allow us to test the degree of host specificity and the co-phylogenetic hypothesis, as well as to further unravel the primate-pinworm evolutionary history puzzle.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: Yu et al. as discussed by the authors explored the possible age-related phenomena with non-human primate models and found that SARS-CoV-2 caused more severe interstitial pneumonia in old monkeys than that in young monkeys.
Abstract: Background: Since December 2019, an outbreak of the Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) in Wuhan, China, has become a public health emergency of international concern The high fatality of aged cases caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 was a need to explore the possible age‐related phenomena with non‐human primate models Methods: Three 3‐5 years old and two 15 years old rhesus macaques were intratracheally infected with SARS‐CoV‐2, and then analyzed by clinical signs, viral replication, chest X‐ray, histopathological changes and immune response Results: Viral replication of nasopharyngeal swabs, anal swabs and lung in old monkeys was more active than that in young monkeys for 14 days after SARS‐CoV‐2 challenge Monkeys developed typical interstitial pneumonia characterized by thickened alveolar septum accompanied with inflammation and edema, notably, old monkeys exhibited diffuse severe interstitial pneumonia Viral antigens were detected mainly in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages Conclusion: SARS‐CoV‐2 caused more severe interstitial pneumonia in old monkeys than that in young monkeys Rhesus macaque models infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 provided insight into the pathogenic mechanism and facilitated the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection FAU - Yu, Pin
TL;DR: A phylogenetic tree is revealed that shows a clade containing all X-linked opsin paralogs found in Old World monkeys to be related to aClade containingall X- linked opsinParalogs identified in apes, suggesting that routine trichromacy originated independently in apes and Old World monkey.
Abstract: In catarrhine primates, trichromatic color vision is associated with the presence of three opsin genes that absorb light at three different wavelengths. The OPN1LW and OPN1MW genes are found on the X chromosome. Their proximity and similarity suggest that they originated from a duplication event in the catarrhine ancestor. In this study, we use the primate genomes available in public databases to study the duplicative history of the OPN1LW and OPN1MW genes and characterize their spectral sensitivity. Our results reveal a phylogenetic tree that shows a clade containing all X-linked opsin paralogs found in Old World monkeys to be related to a clade containing all X-linked opsin paralogs identified in apes, suggesting that routine trichromacy originated independently in apes and Old World monkeys. Also, we found spectral variability in the X-linked opsin gene of primates. Our study presents a new perspective for the origin of trichromatic color vision in apes and Old World monkeys, not reported so far.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: There was a positive correlation between femur and body length of proboscis monkey in South Kalimantan and morphology and morphometric data of proboscopeis monkey are important for forensic reference.
Abstract: The proboscis monkey is an endemic primate of Kalimantan Island, Indonesia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), proboscis monkey was classified as endangered species. Anatomical data of proboscis monkey has not been available yet. As endemic and endangered primate, morphology and morphometric data of proboscis monkey are important for forensic reference. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between femur and body length of the proboscis monkey. The anatomical analysis used three proboscis monkey from the rehabilitation center, Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI), Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. The femur and body length were measured by digital caliper in millimeter (mm). The result showed that there was a strong correlation between femur and body length of the proboscis monkey. The body length of proboscis monkey might be determined by femur length with linear regression y = 0.2682x + 347.85. In conclusion, there was a positive correlation between femur and body length of proboscis monkey in South Kalimantan.
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that vervet monkeys and domestic cats could potentially be housed together without overt aggression and further observations are suggested to ascertain if the co-housing could have long-term benefits for vervets, from the companionship that would be offered by the cats.
Abstract: In current research guidelines, much focus is placed on ethical management of animals and the application of principles of reduction, refinement and replacement. Of these refinements through environmental enrichment is an important aspect when housing primate to prevent behavioural problems. In this study, we investigated the co-housing of domestic cats and vervet monkeys as a novel method of enrichment based on the cohabitation and stress alleviation effect of horses housed with goats and from seeing cats cohabitating with vervet monkeys in an animal sanctuary. The study used a habituation method whereby the cats were stepwise introduced to the monkeys by sight and smell but with physical separation. Assessment included changes in behaviour, weight and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations over time. On the first day of housing, the vervets whilst inquisitive kept their distance. The vervets housed in cages that were closest to the cats were the most active and during the first minute of introduction made more alarm calls, which stopped a few days later. The fGCMs were non-significantly different. The results of this study provide evidence that vervet monkeys and domestic cats could potentially be housed together without overt aggression. We thus suggest further observations to ascertain if the co-housing could have long-term benefits for vervet monkeys, from the companionship that would be offered by the cats.
TL;DR: Two encounters between birds and red-tailed monkeys in a woodland-mosaic habitat in western Tanzania are recorded, suggesting that guenons may generalize large-bodied avians as threats and small-bodied birds as potential prey.
Abstract: Interactions between monkeys and birds are rarely observed and, consequently, rarely described in the scientific literature. We recorded two encounters between birds (Prionops plumatus and Strix woodfordii) and red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) in a woodland-mosaic habitat in western Tanzania. We observed a male red-tailed monkey consume a small bird in its entirety. Although only a few feathers remained, we provisionally identified the bird as a white-crested helmetshrike. We also observed a group of red-tailed monkeys mobbing, but not killing, an African wood owl on the forest floor. This is the first reported observation of this kind. These encounters suggest that guenons may generalize large-bodied avians as threats and small-bodied avians as potential prey. Hetero-specific encounters such as these provide insights into primate diet and anti-predatory behavior.