Laboratory Animal Medicine Discussion on Non Human Primates

I would like to study the psychological characteristics and biological characteristics of nonhuman primates and how it affects their behavior in laboratory settings. This will include information on housing and environmental enrichment. Some species have specific needs which affect mood and behavior such as lighting or diet. Socialization is required and they need to be socialized with humans too. Lighting should be taken into consideration for most species of nonhuman primates. There should be a systematic elimination of stress factors.

Needs for some primates such as to be in high areas, housed with others or special medical needs all should be considered. Animals should be cared for by the staff and treated well with interaction. I intend to go over some of these needs in the hopes that it will help spread awareness of their particular needs. They are curious, interact with their environment, and may grab things in reach. Much of the time, mood and temperament is monitored through the animal’s body language. It is important to be aware because some can be dangerous. The sounds they make may be sounds they needed to use to communicate in the wild. Knowing their behavior allows you to know how to best keep them under healthy conditions.

Understanding what primates need and since they are adept at hiding pain, how to identify issues may be helpful. Since they may not show distress around people, this information can be obtained by video. Although there are many factors that go into how the animal acts in captivity (from diet to housing and more), the primary focus is to understand their behavior and how it effects their care in a laboratory setting. Although their use in the laboratory is rare in the united states, they contribute to studies regarding cancer, HIV, vaccines, neuroscience and more. Nonhuman primates according to our text account for 0.33% of laboratory animals. Their contributions to the human medical sciences are numerous.

Primate Behavior in Laboratory Settings

---Behavior in captivity and in the wild

---Housing, Luminosity, Enrichment and Diet

---Nonhuman Primate Training and Socialization

---Behavioral Issues and Captivity Induced Issues

---Mitigating Behavioral Issues

SOURCE

Comfortable Quarters for Nonhuman Primates in Research Institutions. Viktor Reinhardt. Animal Welfare Institute, PO Box 3650, Washington, DC 20007, USA. http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-prim.html

Questions and Answers About Monkeys used in Research. The Humane Society of the United States. September 28, 2009.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/monkeys/qa/questions_answers.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) screams: Representational signalling in the recruitment of agonistic aid. Sarah Gouzoules, Harold Gouzoules, Peter Marler. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000334728480336X