The normal and abnormal owl monkey (Aotus sp.) heart: looking at cardiomyopathy changes with echocardiography and electrocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease, especially cardiomyopathy, was the major cause of death among owl monkeys (Aotus sp.) at a major colony and threatened colony sustainability. For this study, echocardiography (echo) and electrocardiography (ECG) normal values were established, and cardiomyopathy animals identified.


METHODS
Forty-eight owl monkeys were studied, 30 older than 10 years of age ('aged') and 8 of age 5 years ('young'). Eight aged owl monkeys had cardiomyopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Aged Aotus had increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness over young animals. Left ventricular diameter and ejection fraction appeared to be the best identifying measurements for cardiomyopathy. There were no differences in the ECG.
Center for Neotropical Primate Research and Resources, University of South Alabama (USA), Mobile, AL, USA.
Rashmi S
RS
Rajendra
Alan G
AG
Brady
Virginia L
VL
Parks
Clara V
CV
Massey
Susan V
SV
Gibson
Christian R
CR
Abee
D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology