Uterine evaluation and gestation diagnosis in owl monkey (Aotus azarai infulatus) using the B mode ultrasound.
BACKGROUND
Gynecological and obstetrical ultrasonography has become an indispensable tool in the routine management, health evaluation and research on captive non-human primates.


METHODS
Ultrasound was used to evaluate the uterus and estimate the gestation of owl monkeys. Twelve couples were selected, where five were primiparous and seven multiparous females from the National Primate Center reproductive colony, Ananindeua-PA, Brazil. The procedures were carried out using the GE Logiq 100 MP, equipped with a 7.5 MHz linear probe.


RESULTS
The females showed a simple uterus, of elongated shape, regular outline and homogeneous echogenic texture. In the uterine measurements craniocaudal diameter, dorsoventral diameter and uterine volume (UV), significant differences were identified (P < 0.05) between ultrasound examinations of primiparous and multiparous females. The UV showed a positive correlation with the number of births. The gestational sac and the embryonic echo were visible between 28 and 38 days after mating. Between 48 and 68 days after mating, embryonic death was identified in all the gestations.


CONCLUSIONS
The chemical (use of tranquilizers) and husbandry factors (capture stress) may be related to the prenatal death. The establishing methods of conditioning the female to the ultrasonographic exam may offer a solution to this problem.
Monteiro
Frederico Ozanan Barros
FO
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil. frederico.monteiro@ufra.edu.br
de Koivisto
Marion Burkhardt
MB
Vicente
Wilter Ricardo Russiano
WR
de Amorim Carvalho
Reinaldo
R
Whiteman
Christina Wippich
CW
Castro
Paulo Henrique Gomes
PH
Maia
Celsemy Eleutério
CE
D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology