Digitized Honors Theses (2002-2017)

Date of Award

5-2006

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BS

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Faculty Mentor

Alan Brady, Ph.D.

Advisor(s)

Cindy Stanfield, Ph.D., William Davis, Ph.D.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease, in particular cardiomyopathy, has been identified as a major cause of death among owl monkey colonies at the University of South Alabama Center for Neotropical Primate Research and Resources. It is also the most important problem in maintaining a self-sustaining colony (Brady 2003). Both echocardiography (echo) and electrocardiography (ECG) were used to recognize cardiomyopathy in owl monkeys. Echo measurements allowed for detection of chamber dilation, muscle hypertrophy, and changes in pumping capacity. In addition, the measurements allowed for identification of changes in cardiovascular function, which helped us identify owl monkeys with cardiomyopathy before the onset of the disease. A total of 48 owl monkeys were studied. We conclude that aging owl monkeys are more likely to exhibit an increase in left ventricular posterior wall at diastole and systole than younger owl monkeys. Left ventricular diameter at diastole and systole, E-point septa! separation, chamber size, and ejection fraction are most likely the most important identifying factors of cardiomyopathy in owl monkeys. While squirrel monkeys with cardiomyopathy only exhibit a decrease in ejection fraction (Brady et. al., 2003), owl monkeys had differences in other parameters including chamber size, ejection fraction, left ventricular diameter at diastole and systole, E-septal, and E point septal separation. There were no differences in the ECG parameters. Owl monkeys appear to be a promising model for human cardiovascular disease. In our study, three monkeys exhibited the four stages in evolution of heart failure, which was published by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (Hunt, et. al. 2001).

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