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Background: Congenital fused labia (CFL) is defined as a failure or significant delay in the opening of the juvenile sealed labia majora. This phenotype is known to be variably common in adult captive female marmosets but has never been investigated in detail before., Materials and Methods: Here, we define, describe and quantify the variations in the degree of closure of the vulva in 122 captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) from 1.2 to 42 months old and include colony analysis., Results: There was a negative correlation between the degree of labial fusion and animal age after prepubertal period (P < 0.05). CFL females had higher number CFL relatives (4.3 ± 0.6 vs 2.4 ± 0.5 for non-CFL, P < 0.05) and more external ancestors compared to non-CFL (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Our results therefore suggest that CFL phenotype is most likely associated with epigenetic effects induced by the captive environment and colony management strategy of extensive crossing of family lines to promote heterozygosity., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Methods: Sera were tested for Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 68 free-ranging New World monkeys from a forest fragment of the Brazilian Cerrado., Results and Conclusion: All animals were negative for Brucella spp. and Leptospira spp. However, 75% of Alouatta caraya and 16.6% of Callithrix penicillata were positive for T. gondii. The implications for conservation and health management are discussed., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)