The normal and abnormal owl monkey (Aotus sp.) heart: looking at cardiomyopathy changes with echocardiography and electrocardiography

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease, especially cardiomyopathy, was the major cause of death among owl monkeys (Aotus sp.) at a major colony and threatened colony sustainability. For this study, echocardiography (echo) and electrocardiography (ECG) normal values were established, and cardiomyopathy animals identified. METHODS: Forty-eight owl monkeys were studied, 30 older than 10 years of age ('aged') and 8 of age 5 years ('young'). Eight aged owl monkeys had cardiomyopathy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Aged Aotus had increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness over young animals. Left ventricular diameter and ejection fraction appeared to be the best identifying measurements for cardiomyopathy. There were no differences in the ECG.