Refinements in husbandry, care and common procedures for non-human primates

Abstract

Preface Whenever animals are used in research, minimizing pain and distress and promoting good welfare should be as important an objective as achieving the experimental results. This is important for humanitarian reasons, for good science, for economic reasons and in order to satisfy the broad legal principles in international legislation. It is possible to refine both husbandry and procedures to minimize suffering and improve welfare in a number of ways, and this can be greatly facilitated by ensuring that up-to-date information is readily available. The need to provide such information led the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation (BVAAWF), the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) to establish a Joint Working Group on Refinement (JWGR) in the UK. The chair is Professor David Morton and the secretariat is provided by the RSPCA. This report is the ninth in the JWGR series. The RSPCA is opposed to the use of animals in experiments that cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm and together with FRAME has particular concerns about the continued use of non-human primates. The replacement of primate experiments is a primary goal for the RSPCA and FRAME. However, both organizations share with others in the Working Group, the common aim of replacing primate experiments wherever possible, reducing suffering and improving welfare while primate use continues. The reports of the refinement workshops are intended to help achieve these aims. This report produced by the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation (BVAAWF)/Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME)/Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)/Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Joint Working Group on Refinement (JWGR) sets out practical guidance on refining the husbandry and care of non-human primates (hereinafter primates) and on minimizing the adverse effects of some common procedures. It provides a valuable resource to help understand the physical, social and behavioural characteristics and needs of individual primates, and is intended to develop and complement the existing literature and legislative guidelines. Topics covered include refinements in housing, husbandry and common procedures such as restraint, identification and sampling, with comprehensive advice on issues such as primate communication, assessing and facilitating primate wellbeing, establishing and maintaining social groups, environmental and nutritional enrichment and animal passports. The most commonly used species are the key focus of this resource, but its information and recommendations are generally applicable to other species, provided that relevant individual species characteristics are taken into account.

Assessment of stress responses in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to daily routine procedures in system neuroscience based on salivary cortisol concentrations

“…It is important to keep in mind that the brain, behavior, hormones and immune system are interdependent, and that a disturbance in one typically affects one or all of the others [ 35 ]. Thus the welfare of research animals affects the quality of scientific data and their interpretation and, hence, needs to be optimized [ 35 , 36 ]. With salivary cortisol measures we were able to quantify mild stress responses to the routine procedures used here and in many other systems neuroscience studies working with non-human primates.…”

Individual differences in temperament and behavioral management practices for nonhuman primates

“…Effective behavioral management plans should be tailored to unique behavioral patterns of each individual species (Jennings et al, 2009; Lutz and Novak, 2005; National Research Council, 2011). For instance, owl monkeys use nesting cavities, and should be provided with the opportunity to nest.…”

Pair Housing for Female Longtailed and Rhesus Macaques in the Laboratory: Behavior in Protected Contact Versus Full Contact

“…Department of Agriculture, 1991) and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Research Council, 1996, 2011). Adequate socialization is an important element in refinements in husbandry of nonhuman primates (Jennings & Prescott, 2009). …”