Serum biochemistry panel of free‐living red‐handed howler monkeys (Alouatta belzebul) in the Eastern Amazon

• Published in: Journal of medical primatology Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 27 - 32
• Main Authors: Guimarães, Victor Yunes, Justo, André Augusto, Santos, Bruna dos, Ramos, Marcos Montanha, Takahira, Regina Kiomi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-02-2022
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Alouatta; Alouatta belzebul; Animals; Bilirubin; blood chemistry; Brazil; Creatinine; enzymatic profile; Female; Females; habitat disturbance; Male; Males; Monkeys & apes; Primates; wild howler; Brazil; blood chemistry; enzymatic profile; wild howler; habitat disturbance
• ISSN: 0047-2565; 1600-0684
• DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12556

Background
The red‐handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul) is one of 116 imperiled Brazilian primate species. We aimed to determine the serum biochemical profile of free‐ranging red‐handed howler monkeys in a highly disturbed area of the eastern Amazon.
Methods
We obtained serum samples from 26 monkeys, in which we analyzed 20 biochemical variables.
Results and Conclusions
Calcium concentration was significantly lower in adult males (1.82 ± 0.25 mmol/L) than in adult females (2.10 ± 0.50 mmol/L). Both adults (males = 89 ± 85 UI/L, females = 62 ± 23 UI/L) had lower alkaline phosphatase serum activity than juvenile females (178 ± 120 UI/L). Adult male had higher levels of the direct bilirubin (13.9 ± 8.2 µmol/L) and creatinine (74.3 ± 19.4 µmol/L) than juvenile females (5.1 ± 1.4 µmol/L and 38.9 ± 15.0 µmol/L, respectively). This detailed biochemical profile may be useful for the management of red‐handed howler monkeys in the wild and to support further studies at ex situ facilities.