Current practices in nutrition management and disease incidence of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Abstract

Background A survey was developed to characterize disease incidence, common pathology lesions, environmental characteristics, and nutrition programs within captive research marmoset colonies. Methods Seventeen research facilities completed the electronic survey. Results Nutritional management programs varied amongst research institutions housing marmosets; eight primary base diets were reported. The most common clinical syndromes reported were gastrointestinal disease (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease like disease, chronic lymphocytic enteritis, chronic malabsorption, chronic diarrhea), metabolic bone disease or fracture, infectious diarrhea, and oral disease (tooth root abscesses, gingivitis, tooth root resorption). The five most common pathology morphologic diagnoses were colitis, nephropathy/nephritis, enteritis, chronic lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, and cholecystitis. Obesity was more common (average 20% of a reporting institution's population) than thin body condition (average 5%). Conclusions Through review of current practices, we aim to inspire development of evidence‐based practices to standardize husbandry and nutrition practices for marmoset research colonies.

The Gut Microbiome of Exudivorous Marmosets in the Wild and Captivity

“…In captivity, marmosets diets do not reflect what marmosets would normally eat in nature. Most captive institutions do not supplement marmoset diets with gum, and instead they generally combine different proportions of commercial chow, fruits, vegetables, protein, and sweets 42 . When gum is supplied to marmosets in captivity, the most commonly used source is arabica gum 42 .…”

“…Most captive institutions do not supplement marmoset diets with gum, and instead they generally combine different proportions of commercial chow, fruits, vegetables, protein, and sweets 42 . When gum is supplied to marmosets in captivity, the most commonly used source is arabica gum 42 . Captive Brazilian facilities from where we sampled marmosets for this study also follow similar husbandry practices for marmoset nutrition (Table 4) as that described by Goodroe et al (2021) 42 .…”

“…Thus, one concern for a lack of tree gums in the diet of captive specialist exudivores is the development of health issues as well as a negative impact on breeding and survivability 43,44 . Indeed, institutions with captive marmosets report GI disease such as inflammatory-like bowel disease, chronic malabsorption, and chronic diarrhea among the most common clinical syndromes of captive marmosets (which are largely C. jacchus) 42 . In humans suffering from GI diseases, increasing plant-based foods and dietary fiber, resulted in increasing microbiome diversity, remission of GI symptoms, and decreasing risk of GI 4,45 .…”

“…However, most captive institutions do not supplement marmoset diets with gum, and instead they generally combine different proportions of commercial chow, fruits, vegetables, protein, and sweets 42 . Captive Brazilian facilities where we sampled marmosets for this study also follow similar husbandry practices for marmoset nutrition (Table 4) as that described by Goodroe et al 42 . One concern for a lack of tree gums in the diet of captive specialist exudivores is the development of health issues as well as a negative impact on breeding and survivability 85,86 .…”

“…Marmosets are regularly maintained in captivity as biomedical research models, for captive breeding of endangered C. aurita, and due to illegal pet trafficking 31 . In captivity, marmosets commonly develop symptoms of gastrointestinal distress like inflammatory-like bowel disease, chronic malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, chronic enteritis, and chronic colitis without clear pathogenesis [40][41][42] . Up to now, most Callithrix gut microbiome studies have focused on captive C. jacchus to identify specific bacterial strains and on how life history, social, or laboratory conditions affect the gut microbiome composition 41 .…”