Quantification of Early Gait Development: Expanding the Application of Catwalk Technology to an Infant Rhesus Macaque Model

Abstract

Background: Understanding gait development is essential for identifying motor impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders. Defining typical gait development in a rhesus macaque model is critical prior to characterizing abnormal gait. The goal of this study was to 1) explore the feasibility of using the Noldus Catwalk to assess gait in infant rhesus macaques and 2) provide preliminary normative data of gait development during the first month of life. New method: The Noldus Catwalk was used to assess gait speed, dynamic and static paw measurements, and interlimb coordination in twelve infant rhesus macaques at 14, 21, and 28 days of age. All macaque runs were labeled as a diagonal or non-diagonal walking pattern. Results: Infant rhesus macaques primarily used a diagonal (mature) walking pattern as early as 14 days of life. Ten infant rhesus macaques (83.3%) were able to successfully walk across the Noldus Catwalk at 28 days of life. Limited differences in gait parameters were observed between timepoints because of the variability within the group at 14, 21, and 28 days. Comparison with existing methods: No prior gait analysis system has been used to provide objective quantification of gait parameters for infant macaques. Conclusions: The Catwalk system can be utilized to quantify gait in infant rhesus macaques less than 28 days old. Future applications to infant rhesus macaques could provide a better understanding of gait development and early differences within various neurodevelopmental disorders.

Frequent first-trimester pregnancy loss in rhesus macaques infected with African-lineage Zika virus

“…This neonatal test is well validated and has previously been used to define neonatal development of prenatally ZIKV-exposed infants 16 . The Catwalk XT version 10.6 was modified for infant rhesus macaques and used to assess gait development, as described previously 26,42 . The SNAP was administered at 7, 14, 21, and 28 (+/-2) days of life, and the Catwalk was administered on 14, 21, and 28 days of life.…”

Frequent first-trimester pregnancy loss in rhesus macaques infected with African-lineage Zika virus

“…This neonatal test is well validated and has previously been used to define neonatal development of prenatally ZIKV-exposed infants [16]. The Catwalk XT version 10.6 was modified for infant rhesus macaques and used to assess gait development, as described previously [31,52]. The SNAP was administered at 7, 14, 21, and 28 (+/-2) days of life, and the Catwalk was administered on 14, 21, and 28 days of life.…”