Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Ahead of Print

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, was eliminated on the island of Saint Kitts in the 1950s after an intense program that targeted the snail intermediate host and improved sanitation. However, recently, 3 cases of schistosomiasis were identified in green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) imported from Saint Kitts over a period of 5 months from December 2023 to April 2024. The 3 cases each had hepatic manifestations of the disease. In addition, one animal had disseminated disease affecting the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and lung and is the first described case of neuroschistosomiasis in a non-human primate (NHP) due to infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

Purpose

The Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) recognizes that primates housed in a research setting may be susceptible to weight fluctuations that can affect their welfare and research outcomes. Obesity and poor body condition can occur spontaneously, from mismatches between food provided and caloric requirements, and/or secondary to research aims. These guidelines provide recommendations for managing research NHPs that have a non-ideal body condition to maximize their health and welfare.

Background

NHPs in research settings require an appropriate diet to support healthy development, consistent maintenance, and optimal welfare. Veterinary and research staff involved in weight management of NHPs can use

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and affects approximately half of adults over the age of 65. Many osteoarthritis patients take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a long-term basis, often concurrently with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, to prevent gastric ulceration. Mice (Mus musculus) are a commonly used animal model of osteoarthritis. There are little data regarding long-term administration of NSAIDs or coadministration of PPIs and NSAIDs in mice. This study sought to determine if administration of carprofen, a commonly used veterinary NSAID, has adverse effects when administered for 21 days and if coadministration of omeprazole reduces the incidence of adverse effects. Four groups of C57BL/6J male (n = 5/group) and female (n = 5/group) mice were weighed daily and administered 10 mg/kg carprofen and 8.2 mg/kg omeprazole, 10 mg/kg carprofen, 8.2 mg/kg omeprazole, or control suspension once daily by oral gavage for 21 days. All mice were euthanized, and complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, fecal occult blood, and pyloric histopathology and gastritis scoring were conducted. All animals remained clinically healthy for the duration of the study. White blood cell counts (WBCs) and platelets were significantly lower in the carprofen and omeprazole group. Neutrophil counts were significantly lower in the carprofen and omeprazole and the carprofen groups. Compared with the control group, albumin was significantly higher in the carprofen group. Fecal occult blood tests were negative for all animals. No animals had pyloric mucosal ulceration, and gastritis scores were not significantly different between groups. Body weight significantly decreased for all groups over time, with no significant differences among treatment groups. Carprofen and omeprazole may be safely administered to C57BL/6J mice for 21 days but may induce significant changes in CBC and serum chemistry.

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) with lemon frost morphologies are predisposed to iridophoroma, attributed to a tumor suppressor gene mutation also associated with melanoma in humans. In this case series, we describe the clinical presentation, diagnostics, complications, and pathology of iridophoroma in 4 adult leopard geckos, including 2 super lemon frost females and 2 lemon frost males. All animals presented with hyporexia, intermittent lethargy, weight loss, submandibular masses, and oral plaques. In addition, females demonstrated asymmetric coelomic distension, and one male developed altered mentation. Initial differential diagnoses included metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal infectious diseases, and neoplasia. During clinical management of these cases, ultrasonography revealed hyperechoic hepatic nodules in all animals. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the subcutaneous submandibular masses found clusters of mesenchymal cells with abundant cytoplasm containing fine birefringent granules. Due to continued decline and poor prognosis, animals were euthanized and submitted for necropsy. Gross examination of all 4 geckos demonstrated skin thickening by white masses throughout the body and multifocal white hepatic plaques. Two females showed yellow, enlarged ovaries, and one of the males had hard intraluminal debris in the urinary bladder. Histopathology of the skin throughout the body showed the dermis and subcutis were infiltrated by myriad pleomorphic, ovoid to fusiform, brown-pigmented neoplastic cells characterized by abundant birefringent intra- and extracellular granules. FNA, ultrasound, necropsy, and histopathology results were consistent with diagnosis of malignant iridophoroma with metastasis to multiple visceral organs including the brain and ovary. In addition, both females developed preovulatory follicular stasis (POFS)-associated oophoritis, and one of the males demonstrated urolithiasis; all of which were considered as metabolic imbalance-related pathology due to hyporexia or tumor invasion. This report illustrates the diagnostic features of FNA, ultrasound, and histopathology of malignant iridophoroma in leopard geckos. It also discusses POFS and urolithiasis as multisystemic sequelae to malignant tumors in geckos.

Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Three Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) Originating from Saint Kitts

Michael A EckhausVMD, DACVP,

Jeremy J BearssDVM, DACVP,

Rachel M FleischmannBS,

Jennifer KetzisPhD,

Tiffany LavinderDVM,

Amy BeierschmittDVM,

Jessica PlunkardMPH, DVM, and

Gregory W SalyardsDVM, MPH, DACLAM

Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Three Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) Originating from Saint Kitts

Association of Primate Veterinarians Guidelines for Weight Management in Research Nonhuman Primates

Purpose

Background

Effects of Long-Term Carprofen and Omeprazole Administration in C57BL/6J Mice

Iridophoroma in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius): Clinical Complications and Histopathology

Metabolic Cage Analysis of Surgically Catheterized C57BL/6J Mice (Mus musculus) Treated with Carprofen and Sustained-Release Buprenorphine

Mouse Papillomavirus Outbreak in a Research Facility

A Novel Strategy to Mitigate Corynebacterium bovis–Associated Hyperkeratosis in Athymic Nude Mice

Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Sustained-Release Buprenorphine Formulations in Owl Monkeys (Aotus spp.)

Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Topical Long-Acting Buprenorphine in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Serum Pharmacokinetics of a Highly Concentrated Buprenorphine Formulation in Older Female Sprague–Dawley Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Subcutaneous Buprenorphine Is an Acceptable Preoperative Analgesic in Pregnant Ewes Undergoing Hysterotomy (Ovis aries)

Abdominal Distension in an Aged Female Mouse (Mus musculus)

History

Lessons Learned from Monitoring Adeno-Associated Virus-9 Neutralizing Antibody (AAV9-NAb) Seroconversion in a Cohort of Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Comparison of Thermal and Mechanical Pain Testing Modalities in Sprague Dawley and Fischer 344 Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

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Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Three Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) Originating from Saint Kitts

Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Topical Long-Acting Buprenorphine in New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Serum Pharmacokinetics of a Highly Concentrated Buprenorphine Formulation in Older Female Sprague–Dawley Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Association of Primate Veterinarians Guidelines for Weight Management in Research Nonhuman Primates

Metabolic Cage Analysis of Surgically Catheterized C57BL/6J Mice (Mus musculus) Treated with Carprofen and Sustained-Release Buprenorphine

Short-Term Storage and Transport at Cold Temperatures of 2-Cell Mouse Embryos Produced by Cryopreserved Sperm

Serologic Prevalence of MPV1 in Mouse Strains in a Commercial Laboratory Mouse Colony Determined by Using VP1 Antigen

Comparison of Carbon Dioxide and Argon Euthanasia: Effects on Behavior, Heart Rate, and Respiratory Lesions in Rats

Spontaneous Staphylococcus xylosus Infection in Mice Deficient in NADPH Oxidase and Comparison with Other Laboratory Mouse Strains

Treatment and Eradication of Murine Fur Mites: I. Toxicologic Evaluation of Ivermectin-Compounded Feed