Clinical Management of Gastrointestinal Disease in the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Abstract

Gastrointestinal disease is a frequently encountered problem among captive common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) colonies. Management can be challenging due to the number of etiologies responsible for gastrointestinal disease in this species, limitations on diagnostic capabilities, and lack of effective treatments. Understanding commonly described GI diseases in the captive marmoset can provide insight on the impact these diseases have on research studies and aid in the development of appropriate management strategies. A review of commonly encountered GI disease processes as well as routinely implicated causes of GI disease in the common marmoset are provided. Current strategies in clinical management of GI disease in the common marmoset, including approaches to colony health, diagnostic testing, and commonly employed treatments are discussed.

The common marmoset in biomedical research: experimental disease models and veterinary management

“…Autopsy examination revealed a narrowing lumen of the distal duodenum due to an ulcer scar or abnormal flexure, suggesting an association with duodenal ulceration, duodenal-colonic adhesion, or cholangitis; however, the onset of the disease is not clear and similar cases has been found in other colonies [38]. We have established diagnosis methods for duodenal dilation using a combination of radiography and ultrasonography [38], and we will continue to investigate the etiology of the disease and treatment options. Neoplasms observed in marmosets at the CIEA included intestinal lymphomas and small intestinal adenocarcinomas, which are the commonly observed GI tumors in captive colonies [37,38,41], as well as rare lung adenocarcinomas [42].…”

“…Our clinical and pathological surveys in the past five years (2017-2021) revealed that primary spontaneous diseases in marmosets leading to death or euthanasia were marmoset wasting syndrome (MWS), followed by duodenal dilation and neoplasms. This result indicates that gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are common in captive marmosets and a major health problem for the colony [37,38]. MWS is clinically characterized by impaired weight gain, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and alopecia commonly accompanied with anemia and hypoalbuminemia [39,40].…”

“…We have established diagnosis methods for duodenal dilation using a combination of radiography and ultrasonography [38], and we will continue to investigate the etiology of the disease and treatment options. Neoplasms observed in marmosets at the CIEA included intestinal lymphomas and small intestinal adenocarcinomas, which are the commonly observed GI tumors in captive colonies [37,38,41], as well as rare lung adenocarcinomas [42]. In addition, clinical procedures to maintain the health of the colony have been refined.…”

Alterations in common marmoset gut microbiome associated with duodenal strictures

“…Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prevalence is reported to be as high as 28–60% in captive marmosets and presents with diarrhea, weight loss, enteritis, muscle atrophy, alopecia, hypoproteinemia, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, failure to thrive and mortality 1 , 3 . In addition to IBD, a novel GI disease has been described in young adult to adult marmosets characterized by duodenal dilation or stricture near the major duodenal papilla 4 – 6 . Clinical signs, such as diarrhea, weight loss, or poor weight gain, resemble IBD but increased vomiting is also observed.…”

“…Histologically, duodenal mucosal ulcerations with associated chronic-active granulocytic and lympho-histiocytic inflammation were observed. Thus far only two institutions have reported this disease characterized by duodenal dilation amongst captive marmosets 6 . This duodenal syndrome was found in 21.9% of necropsy cases in a Japanese institution 4 .…”