Jejunal injuries in captive marmosets affected by chronic wasting disease

• Main Author: Pereira, Washington Luiz Assunção
• Publication Date: 2021
• Other Authors: Diniz Junior, José Antônio Picanço, Muniz, José Augusto Pereira Carneiro, Souza, Alex Junior Souza de, Mendes, Fernanda Figueiredo, Cecim, Amanda Desirée Assunção, Aguirra, Lucien Roberta Valente Miranda de
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Digital do Instituto Evandro Chagas (Patuá)
• Download full: http://patua.iec.gov.br/handle/iec/4385
• topic: Primatas / anatomia & histologia; Callithrix / anatomia & histologia; Perda de Peso; Síndrome de Emaciação / metabolismo; Mucosa Intestinal; Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais

INTRODUCTION: Wasting marmoset syndrome affects the Callitrichidae family reared in captivity, characterized by progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions. It has been one of the main causes of death in primates of this genus. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the existence of histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in jejunal of marmosets that presented a clinical history of the progressive wasting disease in relation to healthy animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Jejunal biopsies of seven marmosets were performed: five of them, two specimens of Callithrix jacchus and three Callithrix penicillata, were affected by clinical signs of progressive weight loss and muscle weakness; and two healthy animals, one of each cited species, were used as control animals. RESULTS: Marmosets with a clinical history of progressive weight loss presented jejunal villus atrophy with a flattened surface; also the goblet cells were scarce and barely functional compared to the control animals. CONCLUSION: These changes can cause malabsorption of nutrients and promote the progressive weight loss of callitrichids.