Fecal fat in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) as a measure of intestinal health and lipid absorption across age groups

Citation

Power ML and Shinnerl HE. 2023. Fecal fat in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) as a measure of intestinal health and lipid absorption across age groups. In Brooks M, Fidgett A, Kendrick E, Treiber K Eds. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Hybrid.

Abstract

Captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are susceptible to digestive difficulties that can lead to malnutrition, failure to thrive, metabolic bone disease, and even death. Marmosets with poor digestive function often also have higher fecal fat, indicating lipid malabsorption. Poor digestion and high fecal fat have been linked to poor vitamin D status. Fecal fat under 5% is considered normal and healthy for marmosets. Marmosets with fecal fat between 5 and 10% are considered at increased risk for poor health. If fecal fat is consistently above 10% this is a cause for high concern and possible clinical intervention. For this project assessing digestive health in a colony of captive marmosets at the Southwest National Primate center (SNPRC), 158 fecal samples from 68 animals were collected and analyzed at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Nutrition Laboratory.

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