July/August 2010

Publications
2010 July/August
1
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2
July/August 2010
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Dateline 7.19.10
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News headlines for the past few months have been dominated by the
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In light of this on-going tragedy and our desire to help, Abaxis will
continue to provide the necessary tools and equipment for the affected
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Still, some officials believe the worst is yet to come and Abaxis is here
and committed to the cause. Look to the September issue of VetCom
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Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy 4
Case Study: Beagle with a Poor
Appetite and Lethargy
11
Coming to Trade Show Near You
14
Clinical Update of the Callitrichidae
Collection of Loro Parque
15
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2010 July/August
3
Clinical Diagnostics
of Fluid Therapy
Contributing Author:
Andrew J. Rosenfeld, DVM, ABVP
Cocoa Taylor, a 13 year old female spayed
7 pound black DSH cat enters the hospital
with a chief compliant of weakness, anorexia
and chronic vomiting for the last 2 days. The
owner’s report that Cocoa appears thin, less
active, and anorexic. She is vomiting 10-12
times per day. Cocoa is strictly an inside cat
and has had no change in diet or any exposure
to toxins, poison or plants. Cocoa was 11.5
pounds 3 months ago on her last examination.
On physical examination, the veterinarian finds
that Cocoa is depressed, dehydrated (10+ %),
and thin. Cocoa’s temperature is subnormal
at 98.9 degrees Fahrenheit; her heart rate
is elevated at 200 beats/min with weak to
normal pulses. Medical recommendations
include intravenous fluids, complete blood
count, chemistry, urinalysis, thyroid level
and fecal examination. In-house lab work is
finalized, and parameters are within normal
limits except for the following changes in the
blood work:
Intravenous fluid therapy is the
standard of care at all levels
of practice, whether it is used for
dieresis, rehydration, or emergency
therapy. However, the medical
team must develop clinical
diagnostic protocols that evaluate
the effectiveness of therapy
and monitoring for secondary
disease concerns.
Test
Finding
Normal
HCT
24% (l)
25-35%
Albumin
4.2 (h)
2.5-3.5 mg /dl
Glucose
132 (h)
80-120 mg/dl
Na
135 (h)
139-150 mEq/L
K
3.1 (l)
3.4-4.9 mEq/L
Cl
104 (l)
106-127 mEq/L
BUN
>140 (h)
15-34 mg/dl
Creatinine
8.2 (h)
1.0-2.2 mg/dl
TCO2
19
(17-25)
AnGap
12
(8-25)
pH
7.26 (l)
(7.35-7.45)
pCO2
35
(34-40)
HCO3
14 (l)
(20-40)
BE excess
-12 (l)
(-5-0)
Urine Specific
Gravity
1.011 (l)
1.025-1.045
Testing was performed using a VetScan i-STAT 1. These normal ranges are for
the VetScan i-STAT 1. The VetScan VS2 and VetScan Classic may have different
reference intervals based on differences in methodologies.
4
July/August 2010
Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy
Based on the available medical history, physical exam findings
and clinical diagnostic testing, the veterinarian’s primary concern
is chronic renal disease. The veterinarian recommends aggressive
intravenous fluid therapy, medications, and clinical monitoring.
The medical team begins to administer a fluid bolus of 100 cc of
Normosol and then starts Cocoa on 25 cc/hr of Normosol with
20 mEq KCL/L. Over the next 12 hours, Cocoa appears weaker,
with decreased pulses, with increased respiratory effort. The
medical team obtains another blood sample and blood pressure.
The team notes:
Test
Finding
Normal
HCT
11% (l)
35-55%
Albumin
2.9
2.5-3.5 mg /dl
Glucose
61 (l)
80-120 mg/dl
Na
138 (l)
139-150 mEq/L
K
3.0 (l)
3.4-4.9 mEq/L
Cl
105 (l)
106-127 mEq/L
Blood Pressure
240 (h)
< 180 mm Hg
TCO2
19
(17-25)
AnGap
11
(8-25)
pH
7.29 (l)
(7.35-7.45)
pCO2
35
(34-40)
HCO3
16 (l)
(20-40)
BE excess
-9 (l)
(-5-0)
The team is now faced with
a severely life threatened
patient with concerns of
anemia, hypertension, hypoglycemic, and hypokalemia.
With a thorough clinical
diagnostic protocol in place,
Cocoa’s secondary concerns
could have been identified
earlier, discussed with the
client and treated before
the patient became critical.
Diagnostic Monitoring of Fluid Therapy
Proper clinical diagnostic monitoring for patients on intravenous fluids is dependent
on the patient’s disease, in-house laboratory equipment available, and response
to treatment. Hospitals must develop standard diagnostic care protocols for proper
monitoring of ill patients (See table I). These diagnostic protocols should include:
1. Hemogram Evaluation:
A combination of the
following parameters is best
for patient monitoring.
a. Packed Cell Volume
(PCV): Packed Cell Volume
is one of the first tests that
should be completed. The
PCV should be evaluated for
serum color, red blood cell
concentration, and buffy coat.
With the patient on intravenous fluids, changes in PCV
can suggest response to treatment, fluid dilution, or concerns
of progressive anemia.
b. Hemoglobin (HgB): HgB
functions by carrying O2 from
the lungs to the tissues and
is therefore a vital parameter.
It is also very useful, along
with blood smear analysis,
in diagnosis of anemia (by
allowing calculation of the
MCHC along with a MCV
measurement) as well as
monitoring response to
therapy. Except for severe
2010 July/August
5
Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy
lipemia, HgB is a very consistent value, not
affected by human error in preparation or
measurement. This value correlates well with
PCV (HgB X 3 = PCV) in most cases. As with
PCV, changes in HgB values can be suggest
response to treatment or concerns
of progressive anemia.
c. Blood Film: In the face of potential
anemia, the medical team should evaluate
the blood film for evidence of red blood cell
regeneration. The medical team can perform
a qualitative evaluation of the blood film
for nucleated red blood cells, polychromasia
or intracellular changes that support a regenerative anemia, or a quantitative reticulocyte count. A lack of regeneration in a
chronically patient can suggest an anemia
of chronic disease and prepare the medical
team to monitor for life threatening anemia
and the possibility of blood transfusion.
2. Total Protein/Albumin: Dehydration,
blood loss, and organ disease can effect
albumin and thus affect total protein levels.
Decreased albumin concentration can develop
with severe blood loss, organ disease, massive
whole body infection (sepsis), chronic intestinal
disease, and metabolic disease. Albumin
maintains a positive pressure (Oncotic Pressure)
on the fluid component within blood. When
albumin levels decrease, this pressure is lost
and fluids migrate into surrounding soft
tissue. Low albumin levels can make a patient
more at risk for fluid overload and pulmonary
edema. Patients on long-term intravenous
fluids should have total protein and albumin
evaluated every 6-24. Patients found to have
prolonged hypoalbunemia should be evaluated
for colloid replacement (i.e. Hetastarch), Plasma
Transfusion or Canine/Feline Specific Albumin.
Increases in Total Protein/Albumin Levels
can be utilized to evaluate dehydration level
and response to treatment. As observed
in the case on the previous page; severely
dehydrated anemic patients may present
6
July/August 2010
with a normal packed cell volume but have a
significantly elevated albumin. These patients
may develop a life-threatening anemia within
the first few hours of rehydration. If this
trend is observed, the pet should be closely
monitored in the initial 2-6 hours of fluid
therapy. A possible blood transfusion should
be discussed with the owner.
3. Blood sugar levels should be
monitored regularly and always be obtained
from all critical care animals on presentation.
Patients suffering from sepsis, shock, endocrine disease (i.e. Hypoadrenocorticism), and
certain toxins and poisons can develop life
threatening hypoglycemia. The central nervous
system and musculoskeletal system require
sugar to maintain normal homeostasis; low
blood sugar levels (<50mg/dl) can precipitate
seizures, generalized weakness, collapse,
anorexia, ataxia, abnormal vocalization, coma
and death of the patient. Patients suffering
from hypoglycemia should have 5% dextrose
added to intravenous fluids. Further, patients
should have a bolus of 1 cc of 25 % dextrose/
pound body weight every hour. Blood glucose
should be checked hourly until a trend of
normal blood glucose levels is observed.
4. Electrolytes: Pets with significant
gastro-intestinal loss, prolonged anorexia,
or patients on long term intravenous fluid
therapy (>24 hours) can also have severe
aberrations of electrolytes. Physical symptoms
of electrolyte derangements can include slow
heart rate, pulse deficits, muscle fasiculations
(Muscle tremors/shaking), weakness, and
anorexia. Electrolyte derangements can
be corrected through proper selection of
intravenous fluids and the addition of specific
electrolyte components to the fluids. Patients
should have baseline electrolytes evaluated
every 12-24 hours.
5. Blood Pressure: Systolic blood pressure
>130-140 mm HG (Canine) and 180-200 mm
HG (Feline) can occur secondary renal disease,
Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy
hyperthyroidism (Feline), hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s
disease), heart disease, and
primary hypertension. Aggressive fluid therapy can cause
a severe hypertensive state
producing fluid overload, heart
failure, retinal lesions, shock
and death. Patients with concerns of hypertension must be
identified, monitored constantly,
and treated with anti-hypertensive medication in conjunction with fluid therapy.
Life-threatening hypotension
can be observed in the emergency patient. The hospital
team’s ability to restore normal
perfusion with intravenous
fluids is the key to stabilization. Systolic blood pressures
<60 mm Hg suggest that the
patient is unable to adequately
perfuse their tissues and
organs. Until blood systolic
blood pressure is >60 mg Hg,
the patient is still unstable
and requires emergency fluid
boluses (90 mg/kg/hr) until
normal blood pressure is observed. Once stabilized, it is
important for team members
to monitor blood pressure in
these trauma patients. If
systolic pressures rebound
>130-140 mm HG, traumatized
tissue that have already
stopped bleeding may begin
to hemorrhage again.
6. Acid-Base Analysis:
Acid-base status is an
important part of patient
monitoring and choice of
therapy when available.
Electrolyte disturbances,
organ dysfunction and
metabolic toxins are some of
the factors that affect acidbase balance. Maintaining
pH within normal parameters
is vital to body metabolism
(for example Ca metabolism)
and the chemical reactions
that drive it. Evolution to
determine the cause and
severity of the acid-base
disorder as well as the
appropriate therapy speeds
recovery and improves
prognosis and should be
monitored long term as well.
This is a straightforward
analysis with the proper
equipment.
7. Re-evaluation of
complete blood count,
chemistry and other
diagnostic modalities:
If faced with a patient
that continues to decline
in the face of intravenous
fluids and medications; reevaluation of the complete
blood count, chemistry, and
possibly other diagnostic
modalities (i.e. blood gas/
coagulation profile…) would
be recommended every
24-48 hours or if there is an
acute change in the patient’s
status. In many cases,
patients may develop into
life-threatening syndromes
(disseminated intravascular
coagulopathy) or develop
an underlying infection or
disease that manifests itself in
spite of treatment. Full blood
work can change dramatically
in 24 hours. Reevaluation of
the complete blood count
for changes in white blood
cells that suggest infection,
decreases in red blood cell
and platelet number that
suggest bleeding, changes in
the blood film, or changes in
chemistry and organ function
may alert the medical team
to changes in condition that
may alter prognosis and
change treatment needs.
Conclusions
Medical team must develop standardized protocols to:
• Identify patients with potential underlying life threatening concerns prior to the initiation of therapy
• Monitor these patients closely for progression of symptoms
• Communicate with the client potential concerns and treatment options
• Re-evaluate complete blood counts, chemistry and other modalities (i.e. blood coagulation, gas
acid-base…) in the face of an abrupt change in the patient’s status.
• Treat the patient effectively
2010 July/August
7
Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy
Table I: Recommended Clinical Diagnostics of Patients on Fluid Therapy
Clinical Test
Outcome
Concern
Canine > 55%
Feline > 45%
1. Primary Dehydration.
2. Should be a marked
increase in Albumin/
Total Protein
1. Prepare patient for Aggressive
Fluid Therapy - 1.5 x 2 maintenance.
2. If concern of shock, begin
emergency fluid bolus
- 90 cc/kg/hr.
3. Recheck PCV every 1-3 hours
until PCV approaches normal
level.
Canine < 35%
Feline < 25%
1. Bleeding
2. Immune Mediate
Hemolytic Anemia
(IMHA)
3. Anemia of chronic
disease
1. Evaluate Purple top tube, wet
prep of blood for agglutination
(IMHA)
2. Evaluate Albumin; low albumin
can help support bleeding or
chronic disease.
3. Evaluate clotting times to help
evaluate bleeding concerns.
4.Evaluate blood film to check
for regenerative response,
agglutination, or abnormal cell
morphology to help define the
cause of the anemia.
5. Recheck PCV every 1–3 hours,
if PCV is rapidly falling (<12–16%)
prepare for blood transfusion.
Canine:
3.1-4.5 mg/dl
Hypoalbunemia:
1. Bleeding
2. Liver Disease
3. Kidney Disease
(Protein Losing
Nephropathy)
4.Intestinal Disease
(Protein Losing
Enteropathy)
5. Sepsis
If Hypoalbunemia is noted:
1. Monitor patient for fluid overload
symptoms.
2. If Albumin is 2.0–2.5 mg/dl:
Use Synthetic Colloid Therapy
(E.g. Hetastarch)
3. If Albumin <2.0: Plasma or
Canine/Feline specific albumin
therapy is indicated.
Hyperalbunemia:
Dehydration
If Hyperalbunemia is noted:
1. Continue Aggressive fluid therapy
2. Monitor PCV closely (q 1-2 hrs)
if there is a concern of chronic
anemia
Packed Cell
Volume
Albumin
Feline:
2.4-4.1 mg/dl
References:
Action
Clinical Pathology of the Veterinary Team, Rosenfeld, A & Dial, S. Wiley, Ames Ia, 2010
Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6th Edition. Ettinger, S and Feldman, E., Elsevier, Baltimore, 2004.
The 5 minute Veterinary Consult – Canine and Feline, 4th Edition. Tilley, L and Smith, F. Wiley, Ames, Ia, 2008.
Handbook of Small Animal Practice, 5th Edition. Morgan, R. Saunders, Baltimore, 2007.
8
July/August 2010
Clinical Diagnostics of Fluid Therapy
Clinical Test
Outcome
Concern
Action
Blood Glucose
< 60 mg/dl
1. Sepsis
2. Insulin Overdose
3. Juvenile
Hypoglycemia
4. Hypoadrenocorticism
5. Shock
6. Toxin/Poison/Medical
Overdose
7. Hypoadrenocorticism
8. Shock
9. Toxin/Poison/Medical
Overdose
1. Add 5% dextrose to
Intravenous Fluids
2. Give 1 cc/pound 25% dextrose
3. Monitor Glucose hourly until
sustained blood glucose is
observed
Sodium (Na)
145-155 mEq/l
1. Anorexia
2. Gastrointestinal Loss
3. Organ Disease
4.Endocrine Disease
5. Urinary Obstruction
1. Treat Underlying Disease
2. Administered a balanced
electrolyte solution
3. Administer additional
electrolyte therapy (i.e.
KCL added to fluids in the
hypokalemic patient)
4.Monitor electrolytes every
2-12 hours dependent on
disease concerns.
Systolic
< 60 mm HG
1. Trauma
2. Shock
3. Endocrine Disease
4.Sepsis
1. Aggressive Fluid Therapy
to make sure systolic pressure
> 60 mm HG
2. If not responding, add
synthetic colloid (i.e. Hetastarch)
3. Continuously monitor blood
pressure until normalizes.
4. If there is a concern about
trauma, make sure pressures do
not exceed 140 mm HG.
Systolic
> 100-140
mm HG
1. Renal Disease
2. Hyperthyroidism
(Feline)
3. Cardiac Disease
4. Hyperadrenocorticism
(Canine)
5. Primary Hypertension
1. Identify Hypertensive Patient
2. Treat with Intravenous therapy
cautiously
3. Use anti-hypertensive
medications
4.Monitor blood pressure
continuously
Chloride (Cl)
112-124 mEq/l
Potassium (K)
2.7-5.0 mEq/l
Electrolytes
Blood
Pressure
Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition. Guyton, S. Saunders, Baltimore, 2005.
Handbook of Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment, 7th Edition. Bistner, Stephen. Ford, Richard.
and Raffe, Mark. WB Saunders, Philadelphia. 2000.
Fluid Therapy in Small Animal Practice , 2nd Edition. DiBartola, Stephen. WB Saunders, Philadelphia. 2000.
2010 July/August
9
10
July/August 2010
Case of the
Beagle with a
Poor Appetite
and Lethargy
Contributing Author:
Dr. Ann DelBorgo-Ladner
Saucier Veterinary
Hospital
Saucier, MS
Bre, a 3.5 year old intact
female beagle weighing
24 lbs. was presented at
Saucier Veterinary Hospital
for a poor energy level and
reduced appetite. This was
her first visit and records
from previous facilities
were unavailable. History
provided from the owner
included lethargy, anorexia
and the possibility that Bre
might be pregnant. Physical
examination revealed white
gums, yellow discharge
from the eyes, an unhealthy
coat, a body condition
score of 3 out of 9 and a
distended abdomen which
all resembled congestive
heart failure and abdomnial
palpation indicated the
possibility of a gravid uterus.
Another concern that the
owner disclosed was that
heartworm prevention was
provided inconsistently
which in our area, heartworm
disease is endemic.
A chemistry panel and confirmatory
heartworm antigen test was performed
using the Canine Wellness Profile
including Heartworm.
In addition to the physical
examination, we performed
a fecal floatation and rapid
heartworm test. Results
were positive for both hook
worms and heartworms.
Concerned with her lack of
strength and current findings,
hospitalization was recommended for fluid therapy and
observation but declined.
Therefore, Bre was given
electrolytes, vitamin K and
placed on a de-worming
regimen with recheck
appointment one week later.
As scheduled, Bre returned
for her recheck examination.
Her optimistic owner communicated slight increase in
strength and energy. She
had gained 2 lbs of body
weight and displayed a
minimal increase in strength,
but nothing else had changed
regarding her physical examination findings. A chemistry
panel and confirmatory
heartworm antigen test was
performed using the Canine
Wellness Profile including
Heartworm. We chose the
Canine Wellness Profile to
confirm the heartworm
infection with a different
methodology in addition to
obtaining important health
information for further
diagnostics and prior to
prescribing heartworm
treatment. The panel indicated a below normal ALT,
BUN, GLU and ALB as well
as an elevated ALP. The
2010 July/August
11
Case of the Beagle with a Poor Appetite and Lethargy
In cases such as these where a comprehensive
chemistry profile and heartworm screen
can be performed at a reasonable cost to
the client with minimal time required by the
staff, the Canine Wellness Profile is a useful
addition to our chemistry testing menu and
effective alternative for cost sensitive clients.
Within our hospital, the CWP is a highly
utilized profile as it provides multiple uses for
confirmatory heartworm testing, pre-surgical
exams, wellness exams, senior visits and
health monitoring. Our success at gaining
client consent for blood work is contributed
to constant face to face client education and
communication about the importance of
maintaining the health or treating an illness
of their close companions. Coupling client
education with an affordable exam has resulted
in approximately 90% compliance among all
clients where such testing was recommended.
CBC showed severe elevations in her WBC,
NEU and MONO counts as well as a mild
normoncytic, normochromic anemia. Rule
outs from these tests were hepatopathy
(infectious or inflammatory), other infectious/
inflammatory conditions (mucometra/
pyometra), anemia of chronic disease,
leukemoid response and heartworm and hook
worm disease, indicating a leukemiod response
or severe inflammation.
Radiology results were consistent with
pregnancy (6 fetuses identified) of approximately 6 weeks gestation based on fetal
development. Additional diagnostics (such
as paired bile acid testing and ultrasound)
along with hospitalization and aggressive
treatment were recommended. However, the
owner chose to take Bre home with antibiotic
treatment. While she has not been returned
for further diagnostics or treatment, the
owner called the hospital a week later with
questions concerning labor, as Bre was
struggling to have her puppies. Since then,
check-up calls were placed with no reply.
12
July/August 2010
CWP Chemistry
Results
Test
CHW
Finding
POS
CBC Results
Test
Finding
WBC
*92.66
LYM
2.24
ALP
*456.0
ALT
*9.0
MON
*10.53
TBIL
0.2
NEU
*78.26
BUN
*5.0
EOS
*1.53
CRE
*0.2
BAS
*0.11
TP
6.7
RBC
*4.29
ALB
*1.9
HGB
*9.2
4.8
HCT
*27.5
*52.0
MCV
64.2
CA
9.4
MCH
21.36
PHOS
6.0
MCHC
33.3
RDWc
16.1
GLOB
GLU
PLT
*Results out of normal range.
*763.0
2010 July/August
13
Coming to a
Trade Show Near You
Date
Conference
Location
7/16/10–7/17/10
Pacific Veterinary Conference
San Francisco, CA
7/31/10–8/3/10
AVMA
Atlanta, GA
8/2/10–8/4/10
AAV
San Diego, CA
8/7/10–8/8/10
Peter Piper Memorial Conference Coloosa Vet Society
Sanibel Island, FL
8/12/10–8/15/10
Southern Veterinary Conference
Trussville, AL
8/12/10–8/15/10
Keystone VMA
Hershey, PA
8/15/10
Jacksonville VMA
Jacksonville, FL
8/23/10–8/30/10
CVC Central
Kansas City, MO
9/12/10–9/14/10
IVECCS
San Antonio, TX
9/22/10–9/26/10
Northeast Association of Equine
Practitioners
Groton, CT
9/22/10–9/26/10
Colorado VMA
Loveland, CO
9/24/10–9/26/10
Southwest Veterinary Symposium
Fort Worth, TX
ABAXIS ANIMAL HEALTH IS HIRING
Check out our website for available positions, in field sales,
customer service and much more.
Send resumes to [email protected]
14
July/August 2010
Clinical Update of the Callitrichidae Collection
of Loro Parque
Contributing Authors:
Kirstin Oberhäuser DVM
Heiner Müller
Sara Capelli DVM
Loro Parque and
Loro Parque Fundación,
Tenerife
Callitrichidae are New World
Monkeys which live in the
tropical rainforests of Central
and South America. The
family includes four genera:
1. marmosets
2. tamarins
3. lion tamarins
4. spring tamarin
The entire family callitrichidae
is endangered in the wild
because of destruction of the
rainforests. The Loro Parque
facilities house three different
species of Callitrichidae:
Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus
impe rator), Red-handed
Tamarin (Saguinus midas)
and White-headed Marmoset
(Callithrix geoffroyi).
All three species are
organised in the European
conservation breeding
program (EEP). The idea is
to build up a healthy and
self-preserving population in
the zoos, and the long term
target is to return the animals
back into the wild to support
and/or to rebuild the wild
population.
Loro Parque takes an
active part in the European
conservation breeding
program and is breeding the
animals with good success.
The veterinary department
also endeavours to discover
more clinical information
about this species. Abaxis
supported the Loro Parque
clinic’s efforts to further
its scientific studies in
the fields of haematology
and biochemistry in our
callitrichidae.
With the help of Abaxis,
who gave us the HM5
haematology machine
and the VS2 biochemistry
analyzer, we expanded our
clinical examination to include
a complete blood check
which contains haematology
2010 July/August
15
and biochemistry with the mammalian
comprehensive profile and the thyroxin and
cholesterol values.
The veterinarians, the nurses and the keepers
worked together on the clinical examinations
of all our twenty animals.
These exams included the adspectation of
the skin, the oral cavity, the palpation of the
abdomen, the auscultation of lung and heart,
the weight control and the blood work.
A special comment I would like to make
about the thyroxin values in Callitrichidae: the
thyroxin level is much higher and much more
varied between individual Callitrichidae than
in other mammalian.
In conclusion, we verified that all of our
Callitrichidae are in excellent health and
we also achieved new reference values for
this species which will help in the future
interpretation of the blood work of this
family. We would like to express our gratitude
to Abaxis, who made it possible for us to
undertake these studies.
It is a great help for the Loro Parque clinic to
have received both the Abaxis VS2 chemistry
analyzer and the HM5 haematology analyzer.
We utilize these machines every day in helping
us to understand and to preserve our species.
16
July/August 2010
Callitrichidae
The Callitrichidae (synonym Hapalidae) is one of five families of New World Monkeys.
The family includes several genera, including the marmosets, tamarins, and lion
tamarins. For a few years, this group of animals was regarded as a subfamily, called
the Callitrichinae, of the Family Cebidae.
All callitrichides are arboreal. They are the smallest of the anthropoid (i.e. simian)
primates. They eat insects, fruit, and the sap or gum from trees; occasionally they will
take small vertebrates. The marmosets rely quite heavily on exudates, with several
species (Callithrix jacchus and Cebuella pygmaea) considered obligate exudativores.
2010 July/August
17
Tamarin
Tamarin habitats range from southern Central
America (Costa Rica) through middle South
America (Amazon basin and north Bolivia,
however not in the mountainous parts). Many
species typically have mustache-like facial
hairs. Their body size ranges from 18 to 30
cm (plus a 25 to 44 cm long tail) and they
weigh from 220 to 900 grams. Tamarins differ
from marmosets primarily in the fact that the
lower canine teeth are clearly longer than the
incisors.
Occurrence: Tamarins are inhabitants of
tropical rain forests and open forest areas.
They are diurnal and arboreal, and run and
Scientific Classification
18
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Primates
Family:
Callitrichidae
Genus:
Saguinus
(Hoffmannsegg, 1807)
July/August 2010
jump quickly through the trees. Tamarins
live together in groups of up to 40 members
consisting of one or more families. More
frequently, though, groups are composed of
just three to nine members.
Food: Tamarins are omnivores, eating fruits
and other plant parts as well as spiders,
insects, small vertebrates and bird eggs.
Gestation is typically 140 days, and births
are normally twins. The father primarily cares
for the young, bringing them to their mother
to nurse. After aproxi-mately one month the
young begin to eat solid food, although they
aren‘t fully weaned for another two to three
months.
They reach full maturity in their second year.
In captivity, tamarins live to be
18 years old.
Customer Sampling
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[email protected]
Open to owners and principals of veterinary practices, research facilities,
academic environments and pharmaceutical/biotech companies.
Universities
2010 July/August
19
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Your Mind?
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O
Health industry has told us how
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If you have a question we’ll answer it. If you have a tip or valuable experience
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Editor in Chief
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Craig Tockman, DVM
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July/August
2010
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