Lab Management - Aotus Flashcards
What temperature should owl monkeys be housed at?
75-80 F.
What type of environment helps owl monkeys adapt to captivity?
Tranquil with minimum of extraneous noise.
Why are visual barriers important when housing owl monkeys?
Owl monkeys are highly territorial and do not want to visualize other family groups.
Describe the light cycle and how light is provided to owl monkeys. Is absolute dark preferrable?
12:12h light cycle. Offset from normal day so animals are observed during active cycle. Red or gray filters placed over light fixtures to provide diminished lighting. Absolute dark not better, as normal feeding, locomotion, and social behaviors occur more frequently with some light.
What natural structure do nest boxes simulate for owl monkeys? What do nest boxes improve?
Simulate tree-hole nests. Improves reproductive efficiency.
When should nest box and cage sanitation be performed?
On alternate weeks, allowing stabilization of olfactory cues.
How are owl monkeys ideally housed? Careful attention must be paid to what age of animal? Why?
Ideally in family groups, but can be housed in pairs. Must pay attention to juvenile animals to ensure they are removed from family groups prior to aggression. Rejection usually noted when pairs start to reject juvenile from entering nest box.
Describe the diet of owl monkeys.
Frugivorous.
What must owl monkeys be supplemented with?
Vitamin D3 and C
What is the primary use of owl monkeys in research? What type of this disease?
Malaria, including malarial strains, antigen production, host-vector relationship, parasite life-cycles, and potential therapeutics. Both human and nonhuman malarias.
Why does degree of susceptibility or immunity differ?
Red- or gray-necked group. A. griseimembra highly susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum, A. nancymaae strain dependent. Both susceptible to P. vivax.
What are additional research uses for owl monkeys?
Oncogenic viruses, particularly herpesviruses, and nononcogenic viruses, such as hepatitis A. Model of eastern equine encephalitis, dengue, and cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Vision research.
