Vitamin C deficiency in captive nonhuman primates fed commercial primate diet.
Scurvy was diagnosed in 19 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and four squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) from a colony of nonhuman primates maintained on a commercial diet. Signs of weakness, reluctance to move, gingival hemorrhage, bruising, proximal and distal metaphyseal fractures, weight loss and anemia appeared in juvenile and young adult rhesus monkeys over a 2 week period. Clinical signs subsided after 5 days of vitamin C therapy. At the same time, cephalohematomas and weakness developed in squirrel monkeys, which failed to respond to treatment. These cases were associated with manufacturer's admitted error in preparation of the commercially prepared monkey diet.
Ratterree
M S
MS
Department of Veterinary Science, Tulane University, Covington, LA 70433.
Didier
P J
PJ
Blanchard
J L
JL
Clarke
M R
MR
Schaeffer
D
D
D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012453:Saimiri
D001205:Ascorbic Acid