Evaluation of the main disorders and microbiota of the oral cavity of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) under human care.

BACKGROUND

Although critical to the overall condition of animals under human care, there is still limited information about oral health in neotropical primates.

METHODS

We analyzed the main oral conditions and microbiota using mass spectrometry from 13 capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) under human care. The findings were registered on odontograms following the Triadan system.

RESULTS

The most prevalent conditions were dental fractures (n = 9), mainly enamel fractures, and periodontal disease (n = 8), mainly grade 1 calculi. When exanimating teeth, alterations were identified in 90 out of the 416 evaluated pieces, being periodontal disease the most common (n = 60), followed by enamel fracture (n = 15) and missing teeth (n = 10). In the oral microbiota analyses, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species were the most prevalent, although no obvious association was observed between isolated organisms and oral conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings hold the potential to prevent oral disorders, including fractures and periodontal diseases, contribute to molecular identification of oral microbiota, and to improve the well-being of primates under human care.