Silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) . I. Colony management, caging, diet, and biologic values
Walker, J.S.; Cadigan, F.C.; Sirimanne, A.R.; Abass, J.B.
Laboratory Animal Science 24(2): 290-298
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6764 PMID: 4362876 Document Number: 74660
1. Silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) are arboreal leaf and fruit eaters living in mangrove swamps in Malaysia. They have little contact with man and are naturally free from and highly susceptible to some human diseases, hence their usefulness as laboratory animals, e.g., in the study of scrub typhus. Recommendations are given on capture, housing and feeding. Newly captured animals had the highest survival rates when taken quickly to the laboratory and treated with penicillin and bacterin, with tetracycline in the drinking water. The successful diet was a laboratory monkey diet with sweet potato tubers and tops, green beans and vitamin and lysine supplements. There was some methaemoglobinaemia when kangkong [Ipomoea aquatica] leaves were given.