Indonesian Journal of Primatology

Mosquito Community in Primate Captivity (Tarsius sp.) and its Potential as Transmitters of Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Diseases.

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 12:50:25 +0700

By means of conservation, ectoparasites monitoring and surveillance especially mosquitoes in primate captivity become important. Mosquito is one of the ectoparasites which acts as a vector of various types of zoonotic diseases such as Dengue, Zika, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, filariasis, and others. This study was aimed to determine the diversity of mosquito species, their fluctuations as well as the potential of mosquitoes as a Dengue virus (DENV) vector around the tarsier captivity in the animal conservation laboratory IPB Primate Research Center (IPB PRC). Mosquitoes were collected from February to April 2020 using light traps and sweep net every two hours from 06.00 pm to 06.00 am. Detection of the presence of Dengue virus (DENV) is carried out using Reverse Transcriptase Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) against Aedes albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus. The results showed that there were 4 species of mosquitoes caught around the tarsier captivity namely Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Armigeres subalbatus, and Armigeres foliatus. The dominant mosquito species were Armigeres subalbatus (62.11%) and Aedes albopictus (41.61%). Detection of Dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4 in Aedes albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus gave negative results. The presence of mosquitoes that have the potential to carry zoonotic disease around the tarsier captivity in IPB PRC shows the potential for Mosquito-Borne Diseases to both tarsiers and human.

Morphometric Analysis of Growth in Captive-bred Pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina Linnaeus 1766)

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 18:15:37 +0700

ABSTRACT

The pig-tailed macaque has a high vulnerability to human infectious disease pathogens as well as nonhuman primate viruses, making it a good animal model for biomedical research. The goals of this research are to better understand the morphometric and growth rate variations between male and female pig-tailed macaques living in tropical captivity as their natural climate, which will be useful in developing research techniques as well as modifying and developing equipment and instruments.

The research was carried out on captive pig-tailed macaques born and kept at the Research Animal Facility in Lodaya (RAF-L) Primate Research Center IPB University (PRC-IPB). The characteristics were separated into four categories: head size, torso, upper limb, and lower limb. During the study period, 70 animals were measured, 32 males and 38 females. The repetition of measurements at distinct timepoints according to body development varies for each individual depending on the animal's situation at that time.

There was no visible difference in body and extremity sizes between male and female animals between the ages of 1 and 4 years. Males' head proportions appear to expand consistently in height and width after they are beyond 2 years old, in contrast to females. The growth trend of females tends to decrease from one year of age until sexual maturity, in contrast to males which show a growth spurt at the ages of 1 and 4 years. Differences in size and growth rate indicating sexual dimorphism are visible after the female reaches sexual maturity.

The PCNA GENE EXPRESSION AS A MARKER OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN THE BRAIN OF LONG-TAILED MACAQUES (Macaca fascicularis)

Lis Rosmanah, Aqila Tsabita, Ni Wayan Kurniani Karja, Huda Shalahudin Darusman — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:20:02 +0700

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is still difficult to do, thus it is important to carry out further research to find biomarkers that can be used to detect early Alzheimer's disease. Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) is known as a proliferation marker, which has the potential to detect neurogenesis in the brain. This study aimed to identify PCNA gene expression in the brain as a marker of Alzheimer’s disease in Macaca fascicularis. Macaca fascicularis was used in this study because of their similarities with humans in terms of their behavioral complexity, as well as high cognitive abilities and the formation of a pathological characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. This study used the brains of 7 monkeys in the hippocampus and cortical regions. Monkeys previously have been divided into old and adult age groups. The detection of PCNA gene expression was done using RT-qPCR method. The results showed the gene expression tended to be higher in the adult group and the hippocampus region, although based on statistical analysis showed no significant differences

Gen expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) as animal model for Papillomavirus study

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:59:14 +0700

Cervical cancer is one of the fourth cancers in the world that occurs in women. Papillomavirus infection has been reported as one of the causative agents of cervical cancer. Apoptotic mechanism is one of the signs of cancer. Cynomolgus monkeys have been widely used as animal models in biomedical research because they are similar to humans in terms of genetics, anatomy, and physiology compared to other animals. Previous studies reported that cynomolgus monkeys have undergone spontaneous infection by papillomavirus, but this infection did not show the phenomenon of cervical cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the prediction of papillomavirus-infected cervical cancer through apoptotic mechanisms regulated by Bax and Bcl-2 genes. Gene expression was performed in this study using Real-Time PCR technique. The results showed an increase in Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression in positive group cynomolgus monkeys with papillomavirus infection. Bcl-2 as anti-apoptotic gene expression increased significantly higher than Bax as pro-apoptotic gene. Bax and Bcl-2 have potential as biomarkers to predict the phenomenon of cervical cancer in cynomolgus monkeys with papillomavirus infection.

Behavior of Sumatran Lorises (Nycticebus coucang) in the Captive, Primate Research Center-IPB University

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:19:17 +0700

Lorises are protected and endangered animals, according to the IUCN and government regulations in permen
LHK No. P.106/2018 , because of poaching, habitat fragmentation, and illegal sales that occur. This study aims to determine the suitability of the cages by observing the behavior and use of the cages space by the sumatra lorises in the Primate Research Center- IPB. The method used is Observation of daily behavior using the animal focal method sampling, namely a direct observation method using one individual and an instantaneous point samplingmethod, namely recording all behavior for a certain duration of time, which will produce data on the percentage of animal behavior every 10 minutes. The time resulting from observations of 3 individual lorises was 144 hours. The study results showed locomotion behavior at 46.69%, social behavior at 2.63%, elimination at 1.6%, rest at 25.11%, grooming at 6.16%, foraging at 2.4%, eating at 3.88%, and being alert at 11.53%. Lorises in Primate Research Center use the entire cages space provided to carry out active and inactive activities. The conservation aspect is sufficiently supportive of the housing and feed aspects provided.