Advantages of the Mauritian Cynomolgus Macaque = MCM

• Introduced (17th century) from Java. No natural predators –> Rapid proliferation

• For hundreds of years isolated from other primates and probably only young ones introduced

400 years of isolation

•Unique viral status - Naturally SPF animals.

•Restricted genetic structure resulting in very low genetic diversity and very high genetic homogeneity.

•Pure Cynomolgus from only one subspecies with no hybridization with other subspecies or other macaque species.

MCM long isolation resulted in :

•All Mauritian origin primates are naturally born SPF (B-virus, SRV, SIV, STLV1 free). No Seroconversion. 100% of the animals and babies SPF.

•Asian animals are born in positive origin animal breeding colonies , selected as tested negative. Adults are 80-95% positive; babies might start seroconverting past 2 years of age.

•In research - animals might become positive if under stress or immunologically compromised.

•Certain areas of research like stem cell - will use only SPF animals

•The use of SPF NHPs is much safer for the researchers and animal caretakers and allows working safely at Bio-safety level 2.

Naturally born SPF animals

• Mauritian origin primates are very homogeneous.

• Studies show that this represents definitive advantages on Asian non homogeneous animals.

• This has already been demonstrated in AIDS research.

• Increasingly seen as an advantage in infectious diseases and in pharmacokinetic research.

Genetically homogeneous animals

The total number of haplotypes, or possible chromosomal arrangements, is ~8.

In rhesus macaques, there are dozens of haplotypes, each of which can have multiple flavors and variants.

Mauritian Cynomolgus Monkey Haplotype

Animals with desirable MHC genetics can now be identified and selected for MHC defined breeding groups, vaccination and transplantation studies, or any biomedical research incorporating genetics with experimental design.

The Mauritian Cynomolgus Macaques (MCM) have simpler

genetics than cynos or rhesus from other origins .

This is a consequence of their unusual biogeography; a

small number of animals were deposited on the island

throughout the period of introduction resulting in very low

genetic diversity and very high genetic homogeneity.

•Pure Cynomolgus from only one subspecies with no hybridization with other subspecies or other macaque species.

MCM is a pure Cynomolgus with no hybridization

M. f. atriceps

M. f. karimondjawaeM. f. fusca M. f. philippinensis

M. f. lasiae

M. f. umbrosa M. f. tua

Family: Cercopithecidae

Species: M. fascicularis

Subfamily: Cercopithecinae

Genus: Macaca

Asian Fascicularis have 10 different subspecies

M. f. aureaM. f. fascicularis M. f. condorensis

•There are 10 different known subspecies of M.fascicularis in Asia - those animals differ in many physiological and genetic aspects.

•Hybridization in Asia occur in between subspecies of M.fascicularis and also between them and other macaques species (Rhesus , Pig tail ..).

•This hybridization is creating a different animal model with a variety of reproductive, physiological and genetic structures.

Hybridization of Asian macaques

M. rhesicularis ? or fasciculatta ?

Family: Cercopithecidae

Species: M. fascicularis

Longtail

Subfamily: Cercopithecinae

Genus: Macaca

Species: M. mulatta

Rhesus

Photos of Asian cynos hybrids with other macaque species

Those animals have a different morphology , physiology and behavior

A hybrid animal might have different estrus cycle like rhesus cycle only 6 months in a year instead of year-round cycle like fascicularis

This of course might have serious implications for reproductive toxicology work.

In pharmacokinetic or efficiency studies, hybrids might deliver results that can cause deviation from the normal population of the NHP model.