Case report reveals severe lumbar demineralization via opportunistic CT in a captive howler monkey, highlighting the risks of poor diet and low sunlight.
An eight-year-old male red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul) underwent whole-body computed tomography for gastrointestinal signs. Quantitative CT of the lumbar vertebrae opportunistically revealed severe bone hypoattenuation, demineralization, and deteriorated trabecular architecture. This incidental diagnosis of metabolic bone disease was directly attributed to chronic inadequate management conditions, specifically a severely imbalanced diet and insufficient sunlight exposure in captivity.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Fernandes et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: