Monkeys and guinea pigs are predisposed to which disease?

Monkeys and guinea pigs are predisposed to which disease?

• A. Rickets
• B. Thiamine deficiency
• C. Iron deficiency anemia
• D. Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency)

Answer: (D)

These animals rely on vitamin C in their diet and cannot synthesize enough of it themselves, so a deficiency leads to scurvy. Vitamin C is essential for making collagen, a key component of skin, blood vessels, and bones. Without enough ascorbate, connective tissues weaken, causing signs like swollen, bleeding gums, easy bruising or hemorrhages, poor wound healing, and bone problems in young animals. Guinea pigs and many nonhuman primates are predisposed specifically because they lack the ability to produce vitamin C, so dietary shortage directly causes this condition. The other options involve issues with different nutrients or processes (bone development with vitamin D/calcium/phosphorus, thiamine metabolism, or iron status) and are not the classic dietary risk for these species.

These animals rely on vitamin C in their diet and cannot synthesize enough of it themselves, so a deficiency leads to scurvy. Vitamin C is essential for making collagen, a key component of skin, blood vessels, and bones. Without enough ascorbate, connective tissues weaken, causing signs like swollen, bleeding gums, easy bruising or hemorrhages, poor wound healing, and bone problems in young animals. Guinea pigs and many nonhuman primates are predisposed specifically because they lack the ability to produce vitamin C, so dietary shortage directly causes this condition. The other options involve issues with different nutrients or processes (bone development with vitamin D/calcium/phosphorus, thiamine metabolism, or iron status) and are not the classic dietary risk for these species.