Retrospective evaluation of the incidence and severity of hemosiderosis in a large captive lemur population

Abstract

Significant concern has been generated about the susceptibility of captive lemurs to iron storage disease, which has led some researchers to propose husbandry changes regarding dietary iron. In the current study we sought to determine the history, severity, and prevalence of iron storage disease within a large captive lemur population. Iron concentration and hemosiderin accumulation in a target organ, the liver, were assessed in necropsy specimens from 15 different species (n=153) of lemurs over a 12-yr period at the Duke University Primate Center. Banked liver tissue was used to quantify liver iron concentration (LIC) via neutron activation analysis (NAA). Prussian blue staining was used to accentuate the presence of liver iron for evaluation using an established scoring system. Of the 153 reports examined, 49 (32%) of the animals were considered positive for the presence of hemosiderin in the liver, lymph node, duodenum, and kidney, with 36 of the 49 (73%) showing deposition of iron in the liver. Total iron scores (TIS) ranged from 0.3+/-0.3 in Lemur catta to 33.3+/-1.7 in Cheirogaleus medius. The mean LIC ranged from 209+/-1.4 microg/g wet weight in L. catta to 2957+/-414 microg/g in C. medius. Management practices may have contributed to some of the results observed in this study. Although evidence of excess iron deposition in the liver was present across several species studied, the levels were not as pervasive as previously reported in other captive lemur populations. Hemochromatosis was not observed, and excess iron was not related to the cause of death in any of the animals studied. The current findings suggest that iron overload in lemurs may be more complex than was previously believed.

The Pathology of Comparative Animal Models of Human Haemochromatosis

“…Increased hepatic iron concentration has been demonstrated in several lemurs, common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and other New World monkeys (Callithrix, Cebuella, Lagotrix, Saimiri and Sanquinus) (Gonzales et al, 1984;Gottdenker et al, 1998;Lowenstine and Munson, 1999;Williams et al, 2006). It is also a common finding in captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla graueri) and free-ranging mountain gorillas (Lowenstine and Munson, 1999).…”

“…Captive lemurs have been found to be particularly prone to iron storage, mostly in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and duodenum. Approximately 32e100% of the lemur population can be affected, of which up to 50% may have finally died as a direct result of excessive iron load (Gonzales et al, 1984;Spelman et al, 1989;Glenn et al, 2006). Similarly, in a study of iron metabolism in free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), iron concentrations, ferritin and transferrin saturations were lower when compared with captive individuals (Dutton et al, 2003).…”

“…Iron accumulation in liver, spleen, lymph nodes and duodenum (Miller et al, 1997;Glenn et al, 2006) Mynah bird DMT-1/FPN-1 expression level…”

“…Similarly, in a study of iron metabolism in free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), iron concentrations, ferritin and transferrin saturations were lower when compared with captive individuals (Dutton et al, 2003). However, iron concentrations can vary significantly in freeranging lemurs and between different lemur species held in captivity (Williams et al, 2006. Prevalence in captive callitrichids at the Bronx Zoo was reported to be 94.4% (Gottdenker et al, 1998).…”

DOSE TITRATION OF DEFERASIROX IRON CHELATION THERAPY BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR CHRONIC IRON STORAGE DISEASE IN THREE ADULT RED BALD-HEADED UAKARI (CACAJAO CALVUS RUBICUNDUS)

“…A retrospective analysis of a captive lemur population (n ¼ 153) encompassing 15 different species displayed a 32% prevalence of hemosiderosis. 18 Previous studies had reported a prevalence of hemosiderosis in lemurs as high as 69% to 100%. 5,19,30 Hepatic hemosiderosis is also very common in captive callitrichids, with postmortem studies revealing a 94.4% prevalence among callitrichids from the Bronx Zoo.…”