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The vaginal microbiome is believed to influence host health by providing protection from pathogens and influencing reproductive outcomes such as fertility and gestational length. In humans, age-associated declines in diversity of the vaginal microbiome occur in puberty and persist into adulthood. Additionally, menstruation has been associated with decreased microbial community stability. Adult female baboons, like other non-human primates (NHPs), have a different and highly diverse vaginal microbiome compared to that of humans, which is most commonly dominated by Lactobacillus spp. We evaluated the influence of age, reproductive cycling status (cycling vs. non-cycling) and menstruation on the vaginal microbiome of 38 wild-caught, captive female olive baboons ( Papio anubis) by culture-independent sequencing of the V3-V5 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. All baboons had highly diverse vaginal microbial communities. Adult baboons had significantly lower microbial diversity in comparison to subadult baboons, which was attributable to decreased relative abundance of minor taxa. No significant differences were detected based on cycling state or menstruation. Predictive metagenomic analysis showed uniformity in relative abundance of metabolic pathways regardless of age, cycle stage, or menstruation, indicating conservation of microbial community functions. This study suggests that selection of an optimal vaginal microbial community occurs at puberty. Since decreased diversity occurs in both baboons and humans at puberty, this may reflect a general strategy for selection of adult vaginal microbial communities. Comparative evaluation of vaginal microbial community development and composition may elucidate mechanisms of community formation and function that are conserved across host species or across microbial community types. These findings have implications for host health, evolutionary biology, and microbe-host ecosystems. Am. J. Primatol. 77:563-578, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genital Alphapapillomavirus (αPV) infections are one of the most common sexually transmitted human infections worldwide. Women infected with the highly oncogenic genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are at high risk for development of cervical cancer. Related oncogenic αPVs exist in rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. Here the authors identified 3 novel genital αPV types (PhPV1, PhPV2, PhPV3) by PCR in cervical samples from 6 of 15 (40%) wild-caught female Kenyan olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis). Eleven baboons had koilocytes in the cervix and vagina. Three baboons had dysplastic proliferative changes consistent with cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In 2 baboons with PCR-confirmed PhPV1, 1 had moderate (CIN2, n = 1) and 1 had low-grade (CIN1, n = 1) dysplasia. In 2 baboons with PCR-confirmed PhPV2, 1 had low-grade (CIN1, n = 1) dysplasia and the other had only koilocytes. Two baboons with PCR-confirmed PhPV3 had koilocytes only. PhPV1 and PhPV2 were closely related to oncogenic macaque and human αPVs. These findings suggest that αPV-infected baboons may be useful animal models for the pathogenesis, treatment, and prophylaxis of genital αPV neoplasia. Additionally, this discovery suggests that genital αPVs with oncogenic potential may infect a wider spectrum of non-human primate species than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background In order to consider the non-human primate as an adequate model for studying prenatal diagnosis and therapy, comparative data on fetal growth should be available. Methods Sixty ultrasound scans were performed in 22 baboons between 14 and 167 days of gestation. Measurements included greatest length, head circumference, biparietal diameter (BPD), transcerebellar diameter, abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), and amniotic fluid index. For all parameters growth curves were established and compared with human curves. In 18 animals, birth weight and placental weight were determined. Different equations described in the literature for estimating the human fetal weight were tested in the baboon. Results The fetal and placental growth pattern in the baboon was comparable with humans. The best predictor of fetal weight was the formula presented by Combs: 0.23966 × AC2 × FL + 1.623 × BPD3. Conclusions A high similarity between baboon and human growth charts is shown. The best equation for estimating the baboon fetal weight is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Baboon in vitro fertilization requires capacitated sperm in appropriate media. In this study, we compared the effect of baboon serum (Bas), human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on baboon sperm capacitation. Methods Five males (n = 5) were electroejaculated and 43 oocytes retrieved from super-ovulated female baboons (n = 10). Each sperm sample was assessed for initial motility and concentration before and after swim-up. For swim-up, each sperm sample was incubated separately in Biggers–Whitten–Whittingham media containing either BaS, HSA, BSA or without protein supplementation (control). After swim-up, each sperm aliquot was incubated with two to three oocytes. The number of sperm bound to the zona was evaluated after overnight incubation. Results Sperm motility and zona binding was significantly higher after capacitation in media supplemented with BaS than in HSA or BSA or in media without protein supplementation ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Baboon serum is superior to HSA or BSA for baboon sperm capacitation and zona binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a research about endometriosis using a baboon model. Reasons for using primate models in endometriosis research; Treatments for endometriosis; Comparative advantages of baboons with other monkeys including rhesus and cynomolgus as animal models.

Deals with a research on the occurrence of endometriosis in the baboon. Estimated population of women in the U.S. affected by endometriosis during their reproductive life span; Theories that exist regarding the etiology of the disease; Distinct phases involved in the establishment of endometriosis; Description of the appearance of endometriosis.