The purpose of this work was to measure important nutritional status parameters for captive primates, compare those with published data, and look for a link with diet. The nutritional status of nine captive primate species was examined using biochemical analysis. The species were spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza), sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus), Schmidt's monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), mandrills (Papio sphinx), baboons (Papio cynocephalus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). Diet information was collected by survey and the estimated nutritional composition of the diet for each species at each institution was compared with non-human primate nutrient requirements. On the average, the captive primates received diets that met or exceeded recommended dietary guidelines for vitamins A, D, and E for non-human primates. Blood samples were collected from 94 primates held at Brookfield Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens, and North Carolina Zoological Park and analyzed for lipids, vitamins A and E, D metabolites, and carotenoids. Several species showed differences among zoos for some nutrients, but values from any one zoo were not consistently lower. When monkeys were compared with great apes, monkeys had lower serum total cholesterol, triacylglyceride, and measured LDL cholesterol levels, but significantly higher vitamin D metabolite levels. Species differences were found for serum A, E, and carotenoid levels (with the exception of lycopene). Some differences were seen in serum retinol, retinyl *Correspondence to: Susan Crissey, Department of Nutritional Services, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513. E-mail: znnsouth@ix.netcom.com Received for publication April 29, 1999; Accepted September 20, 1999. 552Crissey et al.palmitate and γ-tocopherol. The relatively large number of animals contributing to this database and the fact that the data were collected from four zoos provide a substantial base for comparing nutritional status. Comparisons of these serum levels with previously published values for selected primates and humans revealed some differences.

The effects of the physical form of feed on water disappearance and the effects of buffered water on proximal stomach pH in swine were determined in two experiments. In Exp. 1, 32 barrows were used to evaluate the water disappearance in pigs fed a finely ground and pelleted diet vs those fed a coarsely ground and mashed diet for ad libitum consumption over a 2-wk interval. There were four replicates with eight pigs per replicate. Average daily water and feed disappearance did not differ (P = 0.06 and P = 0.10, respectively). However, average daily water to feed ratio was higher for pigs on the pelleted diet (4.21+/-0.31 L/kg vs 3.04+/-0.33 L/kg; P = 0.02). The higher ratio for the pelleted diet indicated that this may be the cause of a more fluid digesta allowing reflux of irritants from the distal stomach to damage the pars esophageal region of the proximal stomach. In Exp. 2, four barrows (25+/-2 kg) had gastric cannulas surgically implanted into the proximal region of the stomach. Pigs were given ad libitum access to a finely ground and pelleted diet. The experimental design was a Latin square. Water treatments included water (control), 200 mOsm NaHCO3, 250 mOsm NaHCO3, and 250 mOsm mono-dibasic sodium phosphate. Pigs were given a 4-d adjustment period, and pH measurements began on the morning of the 5th d and continued for 24 h under normal feeding conditions. Feed was removed and measurements were continued for 16 h. Buffered water raised the pH of the proximal region of the stomach compared to the control (P < 0.001). Average pH while consuming the water treatments was 3.65+/-0.11 (n = 4) for water control, 4.86+/-0.11 (n = 4) for the 200 mOsm NaHCO3, 4.63+/-0.11 (n = 4) for the 250 mOsm NaHCO3, and 4.59+/-0.14 (n = 3) for the 250 mOsm mono-dibasic sodium phosphate. Buffers also raised the pH of the proximal region of the stomach for the fed (P < 0.001) and the feed restriction (P < 0.01) phases of the trial. Water disappearance rates in pigs given NaHCO3 were higher than in the control (P < 0.01). Average daily water disappearance for the treatments was 9.13+/-0.74 L for the control, 13.56+/-0.74 L for 200 mOsm NaHCO3, 13.77+/-0.74 L for the 250 mOsm NaHCO3, and 10.33+/-0.95 L for the phosphate buffer. The proximal pH of the stomach was increased by adding buffers to the water supply. Addition of NaHCO3 buffers also caused increased water disappearance.

Serum concentrations of several nutrients were measured in 12 captive wild felid species including caracal (Felis caracal), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), cougar (Felis concolor), fishing cat (Felis viverrinus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), ocelot (Felis pardalis), pallas cat (Felis manul), sand cat (Felis margarita), serval (Felis serval), snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and tiger (Panthera tigris). Diet information was collected for these animals from each participating zoo (Brookfield Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens and North Carolina Zoological Park). The nutritional composition of the diets at each institution met the probable dietary requirements for each species except for the pallas cat. Blood samples were collected from each animal (n = 69) and analyzed for lipids (total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol), vitamin D metabolites [25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)(2)D)], vitamin A (retinol, retinyl stearate and retinyl palmitate), vitamin E (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) and selected carotenoids. Species differences were found for all except triacylglycerides and 1,25(OH)(2)D. Genus differences were found for retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl stearate, gamma-tocopherol and beta-carotene. Circulating nutrient concentrations for many of the species in this study have not been reported previously and most have not been compared with the animals' dietary intakes. The large number of animals analyzed provides a substantial base for comparing the serum nutrient concentrations of healthy animals, for both wild and captive exotic species.

No abstract

Data from population‐based case‐control studies of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma among white men from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota were pooled to evaluate potential risks from environmental exposures in more detail, while controlling for potential confounding factors. These data provided the opportunity to evaluate the risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma from potential exposures to lindane, a pesticide that causes cancer in laboratory animals and has been associated with human cancer in a few epidemiologic investigations. This pooled data set includes 987 individuals with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and 2,895 population‐based controls. Information was obtained by telephone or in person interviews, which included detailed questions on farm practices and agricultural use of chemicals. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, state of residence, and subject or proxy interviews. Reported use of lindane significantly increased the risk of non‐Hodgkin's's lymphoma by 50%. Some use characteristics were suggestive of an association. ORs were greater among persons who first used the pesticide 20 years before diagnosis (OR = 1.7) than more recently (OR = 1.3), among those who reported more frequent use (OR = 2.0 for use 5 or more days per year versus 1.6 for fewer than five days per year), and from use on crops (OR = 1.9), rather than from use on animals (OR = 1.3), although these differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, ORs were lower when based on direct interviews (OR = 1.3) than on data from proxy respondents (OR = 2.1) and adjustment for potential confounding by use of 2,4‐D and diazinon reduced the ORs associated with lindane use from 1.5 to 1.2 and 1.3, respectively. Lindane does not appear to be a major etiologic factor in the development of non‐Hodgkin's's lymphoma, although a small role cannot be ruled out. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:82–87, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Serum lipid levels were measured in healthy captive wild canids and ursids, and the values were compared with previously published data. Serum lipid levels were evaluated in blood samples collected from eight African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), three arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus), nine gray wolves (Canis lupus), four maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), two Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baleiyi), nine red wolves (Canis rufus), two brown bears (Ursus arctos), six polar bears (Ursus maritimus), six spectacled bears (Tremarctos ornatus), and five sun bears (Ursus malayanus). Samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Although the results showed a great variation among species, circulating lipids appeared especially high, sometimes extremely so, in the spectacled bears, polar bears, sun bears, and maned wolves compared with all other species sampled. The study provides a substantial basis for comparing lipid levels in presumed healthy animals and indicates a need for controlled study of the effects of diet on circulating lipid levels.