| dc.description.abstract | Background:
Chronic diarrheal disease (CDD) is a serious issue amongst macaques and nonhuman primates (NHP) in captivity. A group of Celebes Crested Macaques (M.nigra) suffers from CDD symptoms since 2015. Despite several diagnostic and therapeutic efforts made by the Zoo, the animals have not improved.
Objective
The general aim is 1) to investigate the causation of the chronic intermitting diarrhea in M.nigra at the Zoo, and 2) to determine the possible multifactorial influences (considering the diet, type of housing, possible pathogens, and the composition of the microbiome). This research focusses on establishing the most effective fecal identification method for this particular group of M.nigra. The second focus of this study will be to examine the digestion capacity and give an insight in the microbiome of this study group, considering that the cause of CDD is multifactorial.
Study Design
This prospective, observational case-control study examines the fecal identification methods applicable to the study group. Furthermore, the microbiome of the study group is investigated, and their digestion rate is compared with control groups of M.mulatta.
Population
The study group (N=4) of M.nigra consist of two adult females and two juvenile females. The control groups consist of healthy M.mulatta and individuals with diarrheal symptoms. The control groups are kept in 5 different enclosures at the ‘Biomedical Primate Research Centre’ (BPRC).
Methods
The most accurate fecal identification method is examined by comparing beads with consumable glitters and non-consumable-nontoxic glitters. The color retention, the color reflections, the color combinations, and the applicability is examined.
Fecal examination- and sampling protocols are designed. Macroscopic- and microscopic features and the digestive enzymes derived from the samples of the study group and control groups are compared.
Fecal samples of the study group are sent to the ‘BaseClear’ facility for the determination of their microbiomes.
Statistical analyses are made using the SPSS program to perform the Wilcoxon paired T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and ANOVA-test.
Results
Most accurate fecal identification method for this study group is ½ tsp. of non-consumable-nontoxic ‘Rainbow Dust’ glitters in the colors ‘Lime Green’, ‘Oasis Blue’, ‘Cherry Red’, and ‘Bubblegum’.
The pH was significantly higher in the samples with a Waltham-score of 4.0 or higher, and individual No.1 seemed to show the CDD symptoms most often. The number of fat in the fecal samples from the M.nigra population was substantially lower than the number of fat in the fecal samples from the M.mulatta population. The fecal protease activity was significantly lower in May 2018 in the M.nigra group compared to the M.mulatta group. However, this difference did not reoccur in June 2018. The main groups of bacterial phylae found in the study group the Firmicutes and the Bacteroidetes.
Conclusions
The most accurate fecal markers for this study group have been determined and an insight of the digestion rates and microbiome of the study group and the possible influences thereon has been discovered. This study has built a foundation for future studies examining a larger study group and control groups to generate reference values for the M.nigra. | |
