RE: Tamarin monkey with alopecia

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:49:20 GMT

Never underestimate stress effects in 'pet' primates. Self-reassurance overgrooming/trichotillomania can be a coping mechanism in callitrichids and conspecific overgrooming can also result from an unbalanced group. What is the social structure? What species is it? Most pet ones are common marmosets rather than tamarins.

Is nutrition adequate? What exactly is being fed?

They can suffer from ectoparasitism - usually passed from other animals in the household, dermatophytosis, hypersensitivity reactions and endocrine disease but none of the medical causes are particularly common.

I would pick apart the husbandry, determine when hair is being removed and by who (by camera if not already determined) and ascertain if there is a true medical issue before taking this animal out of the group for work up. If no clear social cause then usual work up would be full physical exam, skin scrapes, hair plucks, dermatophyte culture and basic blood profile to help narrow differentials +/- more specific diagnostics like testosterone/T4 assay if any suspicion arises from exam.

Marie

RE: Tamarin monkey with alopecia

Emily Rainbow — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 07:49:06 GMT

For GA for these guys we gas them down in their carrying cage wrapped in a cremation bag. Not very H&S but if they're unhandleable least stressful way for them and me!

Blood taken from femoral vein. We've just started using IVZG for bloods With success thus far. I would also do full skin work up. We have had a group with Demodex that required weekly aludex bathing under GA to clear it. What type of tamarin?