Abstract
The resident skin surface microflora of 12 male and three femaleSaguinus fuscicollis was studied. The suprapubic-circumgenital gland surface and the perirectal area were most heavily colonized (106–108 colony forming units/cm2), but high numbers of organisms were also present on the abdomen, the sternal gland surface, and palms and plantar surfaces. Bacteria were also recovered from hair clippings as well as from shaven skin surface, although at much lower densities (102–104 colony forming units/cm2). Coagulase negative staphylococci, gram-negative bacteria,Streptococcus species and coryneform bacteria were most dominant.Staphylococcus aureus and species ofBacillus were also present. Fungi, yeast, and dermatophytes were infrequently recovered or completely absent. The microbial flora of these tamarins appears to be closely associated with the secretions of the circumgenital scent gland and would therefore be ideally situated to participate in the generation or modification of chemical signals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albone, E.S. 1984. Microorganisms in mammalian semiochemistry, pp. 135–164,in E.S. Albone (with a contribution from Stephen G. Shirley) (eds.). Mammalian Semiochemistry. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Albone, E.S., andPerry, G.C. 1975. Anal sac secretions of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes): Volatile fatty acids and diamines: Implications for a fermentation hypothesis of chemical recognition.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:101–111.
Albone, E.S., Eglinton, G., Walker, J.M., andWare, G.C. 1974. The anal sac secretion of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes): Its chemistry and microbiology. A comparison with the anal sac secretion of the lion (Panthera leo).Life Sci. 14:387–400.
Belcher, A.M., Smith, A.B., III, Jurs, P.C., Lavine, B., andEpple, G. 1986. Analysis of chemical signals in a primate species (Saguinus fuscicollis): Use of behavioral, chemical and pattern recognition methods.J. Chem. Ecol. 12:513–531.
Brun, Y., Fleurette, J., andForey, F. 1978. Micromethod for biochemical identification of coagulase negative staphylococci.J. Clin. Microbiol. 8:503–508.
Epple, G., Belcher, A.M., andSmith, A.B., III. 1986. Chemical signals in callitrichid monkeys—a comparative review, pp. 653–673,in D. Duvall, D. Müller-Schwarze, and R.M. Silverstein (eds.). Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, Vol. 4, Ecology, Evolution and Comparative Biology. Plenum Press, New York.
Goodfellow, M., andMinnikin, D.E. 1985. Chemical Methods in Bacterial Systematics. Academic Press, New York.
Gosden, P.E., andWare, G.C. 1976. The aerobic bacterial flora of the anal sac of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).J. Appl. Bacteriol. 41:271–275.
Kearney, J.N., Ingham, E., Cunliffe, W.J., andHolland, K.T. 1984. Correlations between human skin bacteria and skin lipids.Er. J. Dermatol. 110:593–599.
Kloos, W.E., andSchleifer, K.H. 1975. Simplified scheme for routine identification of human staphylococcal species.J. Clin. Microbiol. 1:82–88.
Labows, J.N., Mcginley, K.J., andKligman, A.M. 1982. Perspectives on axillary odor.J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 34:193–202.
Lehmann, P., Zheng, P., Lavker, R.M., andKligman, A.M. 1983. Corticosteroid atrophy in human skin: A study by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy.J. Invest. Dermatol. 81:169–176.
Lewis, D.H., Stein, F.J., Sis, R.F., andMcmurray, D.N. 1987. Fecal microflora of marmosets with wasting marmoset syndrome.Lab. Anim. Sci. 37:103–105.
Leyden, J.J., Mcginley, K.J., Hoelzle, E., Labows, J.N., andKligman, A.M. 1981. The microbiology of the human axilla and its relationship to axillary odor.J. Invest. Dermatol. 77:413–416.
Merritt, G.C., Goodrich, B.S., Hesterman, E.R., andMykytowycz, R. 1982. Microflora and volatile fatty acids present in inguinal pouches of the wild rabbit,Oryctalagus cunicullus in Australia.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1217–1225.
Nixon, A., Mallet, A.I., Jackman, P.J.H., andGower, D.B. 1984. Production of 5α- and 5β- dihydrotestosterone by isolated human axillary bacteria.FEMS Microb. Lett. 25:153–157.
Paik, G. 1980. Reagents, stains and miscellaneous test procedures, pp. 1000–1024,in E.H. Lennette, A. Balows, W.J. Hausler, and J.P. Truant (eds.). Manual of Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
Perkins, E.M. 1966. The skin of primates. The skin of the black-collared tamarin (Tamarinus nigricollis).Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 25:41–69.
Puhvel, S.M. 1975. Esterification of [4-14C]cholesterol by cutaneous bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes andPropionibacterium granulosum).J. Invest. Dermatol 64:397–400.
Svendsen, G.E., andJollick, J.D. 1978. Bacterial contents of anal and castor glands of the beaver (Castor canadensis).J. Chem. Ecol. 4:563–569.
Turtiff, G.E. 1948. The microbiological degradation of steroids.Biochem. J. 42:376–383.
Vandenbergh, J.G. 1983. Pheromones and Reproduction in Mammals. Academic Press, New York.
Ware, G.C., andGosden, P.E. 1980. Anaerobic microflora of the anal sac of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).J. Chem. Ecol. 6:97–102.
Yarger, R.G., Smith, A.B., III, Preti, G., andEpple, G. 1977. The major volatile constituents of the scent mark of a South American primate,Saguinus fuscicollis, Callitrichidae.J. Chem. Ecol. 3:45–56.
Zeller, U., Epple, G., Küderling, I., andKuhn, H.J. 1988. The anatomy of the circumgenital scent gland ofSaguinus fuscicollis (Callitrichidae, Primates).J. Zool. (London) 214:141–156.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nordstrom, K.M., Belcher, A.M., Epple, G. et al. Skin surface microflora of the saddle-back tamarin monkey,Saguinus fuscicollis . J Chem Ecol 15, 629–639 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014706
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014706