The Common Marmoset-Biomedical Research Animal Model Applications and Common Spontaneous Diseases

Abstract

Marmosets are becoming more utilized in biomedical research due to multiple advantages including (1) a nonhuman primate of a smaller size with less cost for housing, (2) physiologic similarities to humans, (3) translatable hepatic metabolism, (4) higher numbers of litters per year, (5) genome is sequenced, molecular reagents are available, (6) immunologically similar to humans, (7) transgenic marmosets with germline transmission have been produced, and (8) are naturally occurring hematopoietic chimeras. With more use of marmosets, disease surveillance over a wide range of ages of marmosets has been performed. This has led to a better understanding of the disease management of spontaneous diseases that can occur in colonies. Knowledge of clinical signs and histologic lesions can assist in maximizing the colony's health, allowing for improved outcomes in translational studies within biomedical research. Here, we describe some basic husbandry, biology, common spontaneous diseases, and animal model applications for the common marmoset in biomedical research.

Keywords: Callithrix jacchus; biomedical research applications; common marmoset; common spontaneous diseases.

Figure 1.

Chronic enteritis. Lymphoplasmacytic inflammation expanding the jejunum lamina propria with blunted small intestinal villi in a common marmoset. 10X H&E.

Figure 2.

Fibrous osteodystrophy. Humeral and radial osteopenia with moth-eaten appearance in radiograph in a common marmoset.

Figure 3.

Fibrous osteodystrophy. Cortex is replaced with fibrosis between the trabeculae in a common marmoset. 20X H&E.

Figure 4.

Chronic renal disease. Renal interstitial fibrosis with lymphocytic infiltrates and focal glomerular fibrosis/sclerosis. Tubules are attenuated and occasionally filled with hyaline casts in a common marmoset. 10X H&E.

Figure 5.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma. Histological examination revealed infiltrative mucinous adenocarcinoma of the duodenum in a common marmoset. 10X H&E.

Figure 6.

Lung metastases from duodenal carcinoma. Histological examination revealed infiltrative carcinoma with signet ring features or mucin deposition. 10X H&E.