Abdominal ultrasonography of the normal St. Kitts vervet monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus)

• Published in: Journal of medical primatology Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 28 - 38
• Main Authors: Amory, J.T., Du Plessis, W.M., Beierschmitt, A., Beeler-Marfisi, J., Palmour, R.M., Beths, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2013
• Subjects: abdomen; Abdomen - diagnostic imaging; Animals; Cercopithecinae - anatomy & histology; diagnostic imaging; Female; gastrointestinal tract imaging; Male; male reproductive; non-human primate; non-invasive; normal; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasonography - veterinary; ultrasound
• ISSN: 0047-2565; 1600-0684
• DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12028

Background Normal ultrasonography of non‐reproductive abdominal and male reproductive anatomy in the vervet monkey were prospectively assessed. This has not been previously reported. Methods Ten non‐sexually active male and 10 non‐gravid female clinically healthy vervet monkeys between 5 and 12 years of age and weighing between 3.13 and 6.85 kg were evaluated with ultrasound. Individuals were randomly divided by gender groups into one of two immobilization protocols and scanned at 18.0 MHz. Results High‐quality images of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, urinary bladder, spleen, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal tract, and testes were acquired. The prostate was never visualized. Abdominal lymph nodes other than an ileocolic, the pancreas, and the female reproductive tract were not evaluated. Gastric and duodenal motility were significantly different between immobilization protocols (P < 0.05). Conclusions Abdominal sonographic anatomy was successfully characterized and normal size parameters for non‐reproductive abdominal viscera and the testes were established.