Determination of dry matter digestibility in “sagüis de tufo preto” (Callithrix penicilatta) and “macacos-prego” (Cebus apella)

Foi determinado o Coeficiente de Digestibilidade Aparente da Matéria Seca, em rações para animais silvestres. Foram utilizados 16 animais, oito (8) sagüis de tufo preto (Callithrix penicilatta) e oito (8) macacos-prego (Cebus apella). Os animais foram mantidos em gaiolas de digestibilidade e receberam a ração básica durante 10 dias. Após o período inicial, as amostras de fezes foram colhidas durante 5 dias para posterior análise. Os Coeficientes de Digestibilidade para o Callithrix estiveram entre 84,9 e 97,7%, enquanto para o Cebus oscilaram entre 75,4 e 86,2%. A pesquisa concluiu que as rações utilizadas foram muito bem aproveitadas pelos animais.Applicability of the total collection of faeces, for determination of apparent digestibility of dry matter, was studied in nonhuman primates - Callithrix penicilatta eight (8) and Cebus apella eight (8). Animals were maintained in individual boxes where they received the ration for ten days. All of the feed offered and any refused was weighed and recorded. After an initial period, the samples of the faeces were collected for five days and analyzed. The apparent digestibility coefficient varied from 84.9 to 97.7% for C. penicilatta and from 75.4 to 86.2% for C. apella. The research concluded that the tested rations conveniently fed the animals

Relation between the level of self-mutilation and theconcentration of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoids incaptive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

The influence of stress in an environment, according with the behavioral and endocrine variables of primates, are increasingly being studied by a diversity of authors, and have shown that abnormal behaviors associated with increased glucocorticoids may be directly related with the impairment of their well-being. In this work were used 22 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), 11 males and 11 females, kept in captivity in three different institutions. All animals had their behavior registered by focal session using a 30 seconds sample interval, during six months, totaling 4,800 registries per each animal. During this period, fecal samples were collected 3 times a week for the extraction and measurement of the concentration of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoid by radioimmunoassay. Of the total observed, stereotypical behaviors represented 13,45±2.76%, and among them, self-mutilation represented 38.28±3.98 %. The animals were classified into three different scores, according with the percentage of body surface with alopecia due to self-mutilation. It was found a positive correlation of high intensity between the scores of alopecia due to the observed mutilation and the average concentrations of fecal metabolites of glucocorticoids. This result strongly suggests that this measurement of self-mutilation in a chimpanzee can be used as an important auxiliary tool to evaluate de conditions of adaptation of an animal in captivity, functioning as a direct indicator of the presence of chronic stress

Determination of dry matter digestibility in “sagüis de tufo preto” (Callithrix penicilatta) and “macacos-prego” (Cebus apella)

Applicability of the total collection of faeces, for determination of apparent digestibility of dry matter, was studied in nonhuman primates - Callithrix penicilatta eight (8) and Cebus apella eight (8). Animals were maintained in individual boxes where they received the ration for ten days. All of the feed offered and any refused was weighed and recorded. After an initial period, the samples of the faeces were collected for five days and analyzed. The apparent digestibility coefficient varied from 84.9 to 97.7% for C. penicilatta and from 75.4 to 86.2% for C. apella. The research concluded that the tested rations conveniently fed the animals