Relationship of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and proteinuria to cardiomyopathy in the owl monkey (Aotus vociferans).
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine serum reference values for creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in captive-born and wild-caught owl monkeys to assess their usefulness for diagnosing myocardial disease.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected for CK, AST and LDH determinations. In addition, urine samples were collected and semiquantitative tests performed.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference between CK, AST and LDH when comparing both groups. However, when comparing monkeys with proteinuria to those without proteinuria, a statistically significant difference in CK value was observed (P = 0.021). In addition the CK/AST ratio revealed that 29% of the animals included in this study had values suggesting cardiac infarction. Grossly, cardiac concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle and small, pitted kidneys were the most common findings. Microscopically, myocardial fibrosis, contraction band necrosis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of coronary arteries, medium-sized renal arteries and afferent glomerular arteriolae were the most significant lesions, along with increased mesangial matrix and hypercellularity of glomeruli, Bowman's capsule and peritubular space fibroplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that CK, AST and LDH along with urinalysis provide a reliable method for diagnosing cardiomyopathies in the owl monkey. In addition, CK/AST ratio, proteinuria and the observed histological and ultrastructural changes suggest that Aotus vociferans suffer from arterial hypertension and chronic myocardial infarction.
Gozalo
Alfonso S
AS
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Iquitos, Perú. gozaloa@niaid.nih.gov
Chavera
Alfonso
A
Montoya
Enrique J
EJ
Takano
Juan
J
Weller
Richard E
RE
D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000662:veterinary*
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D003402:Creatine Kinase