Crockett, C. M., Bentson, K. L., Bellanca, R. U. 2007. Alopecia and overgrooming in laboratory monkeys vary by species but not sex, suggesting a different etiology than self-biting. American Journal of Primatology 69(S1), 87. (30th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #117)

Alopecia in laboratory monkeys can result from overgrooming (OG), medical conditions, or hormonal variation. Because hair loss is visible, disproportionate intervention may be expected relative to other indicators of potentially compromised well-being. Two analyses (α=0.05) suggest that alopecia and overgrooming differ in etiology from self-biting. (1) All 637 monkeys at WaNPRC on 08/01/06 were scored for alopecia (AloScore: 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe). GLM-ANOVA of AloScore found no significant differences for sex or social housing but significant age and species differences (increased with age; Macaca nemestrina-Mn > M. fascicularis-Mfl and M. mulatta-Mm). (2) Demographic information for 1,323 monkeys >6 months old was merged with behavioral data regarding self-biting (SB) and overgrooming with alopecia (AloOG). We performed GLM-logistic analyses of AloOG and SB with factors including sex and species; Mn were classified as nursery-reared (MnNR) or not (MnO). Sex was NS for AloOG (as for AloScore), but SB was significantly more prevalent in males. MnNR had significantly lower incidence of AloOG than MnO, Mfl, and Mm. MnNR had significantly higher incidence of SB than MnO, Mm, Mfl, and Papio cynocephalus (PC); SB was also significantly higher in Mm and PC than Mfl. Chronic overgrooming is typically resistant to treatment. Alopecia and AloOG in the absence of other indicators of compromised well-being (including self-injury related to overgrooming) do not appear to warrant devoting limited resources toward prolonged behavioral monitoring or interventions. NIH-RR00166.