Study of three non-syndromic cases of congenital thumb aplasia in captive rhesus monkeys

Abstract

Although congenital thumb absence has been reported frequently in humans, their occurrence in macaques is rare. We observed three cases of spontaneous thumb defects in captive female rhesus monkeys. One animal exhibited bilateral absence and two other presented unilateral thumb absence, all with metacarpal integrity. This report presents the clinical, radiological, and genealogical details as well as possible etiologies in an attempt to draw a parallel with humans and other primate species.

Keywords: Macaca mulatta; absent thumb; birth defects; congenital anomalies.