Acute and Chronic Biotin Deficiencies in the Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

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Abstract
A chronic biotin deficiency in the monkey produces a thinning of the fur coat and a gradual loss of color in the hair. The time elapsing before the hair loss in monkeys fed whole liver, liver extract, and solubilized livers can be correlated with the biotin content of the respective liver diets. Twenty μg. crystalline biotin per day was sufficient to cure or to prevent the denudation. The hair loss is independent of the season, but is affected by hormonal influences, as indicated by slower regrowth of fur in menstruating and adolescent females. The acute biotin deficiency produced by feeding egg white is strikingly similar to the acute deficiency which results when 3% succinylsulfathiazole is included in a complete diet. Heavy, scaly, dermatitis covers the whole body in the later stages, but is most conspicuous on the face, arms and legs. Twenty micrograms of biotin per day was sufficient to overcome the deleterious effects of the egg white and of the sulfa drugs.