Infant development and weaning in Macaca silenus in the natural habitats of the Western Ghats, India

This article reports the development of behaviour in 31 lion-tailed macaque infants from birth to the age of 15 months. The study was conducted during January 2002-June 2005. The study animals included a large group of lion-tailed macaques inhabiting a rainforest fragment in the Western Ghats, India. Two critical stages were observed during the development of the infants: one at the age of five and a half months, and another at the age of nine months. When the infants were five and a half months old, there was a sudden increase in the occurrence of nipple contact, a sharp decline in the per cent of infants making nipple contact after this age, a peak in the occurrence of retrieve by the mother, a peak in the occurrence of play by the infant, and a peak in the occurrence of environmental exploration by the infant, and stabilization of exploration after this age. Up to the age of nine months, the occurrence of an infant approaching the mother and mother punishing the infant continued to increase, and these two behaviours abruptly ended at the age of nine months. Mother grooming the infant occurred with a peak at the infant's age of nine months. It appears that in lion-tailed macaques, the mother actively initiated weaning. It began at the infant's age of five and a half months and was completed by the time the infant was nine months old. The mother, however, increased the frequency of grooming the infant, and thus continued to care for the infant in ways that cost her less in terms of parental investment. A longer duration of nipple contact by some male infants, more retrieval and grooming of male infants, and more proximity of male infants to mothers indicated higher maternal parental investment on male infants

Individualized versus standardized risk assessment in patients at high risk for adverse drug reactions (IDrug) – study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Background Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug reactions, especially if they are affected by additional risk factors such as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, impaired renal function and intake of drugs with high risk potential. Apart from these clinical parameters, drug safety and efficacy can be influenced by pharmacogenetic factors. Evidence-based recommendations concerning drug-gene-combinations have been issued by international consortia and in drug labels. However, clinical benefit of providing information on individual patient factors in a comprehensive risk assessment aiming to reduce the occurrence and severity of adverse drug reactions is not evident. Purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effect of a concise individual risk information leaflet with standard information on risk factors for side effects. Methods/Design The trial was designed as a prospective, two-arm, randomized, controlled, multicenter, pragmatic study. 960 elderly, multimorbid outpatients in general medicine are included if they take at least one high risk and one other long-term drug (polymedication). As high risk “index drugs” oral anticoagulants and antiplatelets were chosen because of their specific, objectively assessable side effects. Following randomization, test group patients receive an individualized risk assessment leaflet evaluating their personal data concerning bleeding- and thromboembolic-risk-scores, potential drug-drug-interactions, age, renal function and pharmacogenetic factors. Control group patients obtain a standardized leaflet only containing general information on these criteria. Follow-up period is 9 months for each patient. Primary endpoint is the occurrence of a thromboembolic/bleeding event or death. Secondary endpoints are other adverse drug reactions, hospital admissions, specialist referrals and medication changes due to adverse drug reactions, the patients’ adherence to medication regimen as well as health related quality of life, mortality and resulting costs. Discussion Despite extensive evidence of risk factors for adverse drug reactions, there are few prospective trial data about an individualized risk assessment including pharmacogenetic information to increase patient safety. By conducting a health economic analysis, we will evaluate if the application of an individualized drug therapy in daily routine is cost-effective. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00006256, date of registration 09/01/15

Captive propagation of threatened primates - the example of the Lion-tailed Macaque <i>Macaca silenus</i>

Many conservation-oriented breeding programs are not likely to reach their goal of establishing self-sustaining populations. Some zoo biologists propagate to reconsider zoo-based conservation policies and strategies. The Lion-tailed Macaque is a flagship species for in situ conservation and a high priority species in captive propagation. This article reviews the captive management history of the Lion-tailed Macaque, identifies management patterns that might have negatively influenced the development of the programs, and proposes to use this analysis to initiate a new management perspective. In the North American captive Lion-tailed Macaque population under the Species Survival Plan (SSP), the strong reduction in population size and group sizes due to space problems might have contributed to a decrease in population viability. The population over two decades has declined from almost 300 to less than 100 individuals. In the European population under the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), population size was not limited and larger groups were advocated. The population grew slowly but steadily to a present size of more than 350 individuals over about 23 years. The effective population size has remained low in both SSP and EEP populations. A general conceptual framework that focuses on individuals and their phenotypes for in situ and ex situ conservation recently developed by field conservationists is briefly introduced. It is used to suggest improvements in the management of the Lion-tailed Macaque. It is concluded that the size and structure of a breeding population is to be decided so as to provide conditions and materials for successful reproduction rather than by the available zoo space only. For this, large groups and populations with representation of all age-sex classes are advocated. This would result in a further reduction in the number of species kept in zoos. It is indicated that zoo biology needs to develop new concepts that include a large spectrum of concepts of biology and knowledge about the adaptive potential of animal species under altered and fragmented conditions

Reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus): An important key to the conservation of an endangered species

The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), endemic to rainforests of the Western Ghats; in southern India, is an endangered species. Most of its population now lives in fragmented pockets of rainforests. Considerable research has been carried out on its reproductive biology both on wild and captive populations in North America and Europe. We review studies carried out on birth seasonality, life-history parameters, and reproductive physiology and behaviour. The captive populations differ considerably from wild populations on several parameters of reproductive biology. Because of a low population turnover in this species due to a delayed age at first birth and long inter-birth intervals, and further degradation of its natural habitats, rapid population replenishment or augmentation is unlikely. This article shows that the study of reproductive biology may provide an important key to the conservation of this species. It also indicates that several aspects of reproductive biology of lion-tailed macaque still remain to be addressed

Dermatologic investigation of alopecia in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Coat damage has been reported frequently in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and it is a serious health problem because the hair coat functions as an anatomic and physiologic barrier between the animal and the environment. The purpose of this study was to identify the pathogenesis of coat damage in this species and to exclude the most frequent causes of alopecia. The investigation included clinical, hematologic, bacteriologic, mycologic, parasitologic, and histopathologic evaluations. A broad systematic dermatologic investigation was performed on 156 rhesus macaques, kept under variable environmental conditions, at the German Primate Center, Göttingen. In addition, 27 animals from other primate facilities were incorporated into the study. Clinically, 126 animals showed partial alopecia of varying severity, with complete alopecia in the worst cases. In 88% of the cases, the disorder was bilaterally symmetrical. The back and extremities were most commonly affected. No gross clinical changes of the skin surface were detected. Histologic changes consisted predominantly of mild epidermal hyperkeratosis and mild perivascular dermatitis. The presence and severity of histologic lesions were not correlated to coat damage. Parasitic, bacterial, and mycotic causes of alopecia were ruled out. Overviewing these results, disturbances in environment and behavior controlling or influencing hair growth may lead to hair loss in captive rhesus macaques. Future studies should try to identify disturbances in extrinsic or intrinsic factors influencing hair follicle activity in rhesus macaques

Distribution, population structure, and conservation of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) in the Anaimalai Hills, Western Ghats, India

Abstract The lion-tailed macaque is an endangered species, and hence it is necessary that the remaining populations in the rainforests of the Western Ghats, India, be located and their habitats assessed for effective conservation. The Anaimalai Hills in the state of Tamil Nadu harbor 31 groups of lion-tailed macaques. However, the rainforest in these hills is highly fragmented. Since lion-tailed macaques are typically arboreal, the groups have become isolated. Two large rain-forest complexes in these hills harbor 12 and seven groups, respectively, and the remaining 12 groups inhabit small, isolated forest fragments. Group size ranges from six to 53 individuals, with a mean size of 16.3. In the small forest fragments, the standard deviation (SD) of group size was considerably higher than it was in the larger forest complexes. The disturbed fragments also had a higher variability in group size than the relatively undisturbed habitats. It is believed that fragmentation may impede male migration. We suggest that the fragments be managed in such a way that male migration among groups can be facilitated to overcome the potential effects of isolation. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc

1 kW, 200 mJ picosecond thin-disk laser system

We report on a laser system based on thin-disk technology and chirped pulse amplification, providing output pulse energies of 200 mJ at a 5 kHz repetition rate. The amplifier contains a ring-type cavity and two thin Yb:YAG disks, each pumped by diode laser systems providing up to 3.5 kW power at a 969 nm wavelength. The average output power of more than 1 kW is delivered in an excellent output beam characterized by M2=1.1. The output pulses are compressed to 1.1 ps at full power with a pair of dielectric gratings