Nonhuman Primate Management Plan

In 1987, a survey of 56 investigators and five veterinarians from 10 ICD's was conducted to assess the status of housing and management procedures and experimental requirements for the nonhuman primate population at NIH. A follow-up survey was conducted in 1990. The results of this survey are as follows:

• The largest proportion of nonhuman primates at NIH is the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). See Table 2 for a rank ordering of the usage of other nonhuman primate species.

• 58.1% of the investigators studying nonhuman primates at NIH use rhesus monkeys (see Table 3).

• 96.4% of the time the subject animal is removed from the home cage during the course of the experiment (47% of the time the animal is removed 1-2 times each week).

• If the animal is removed, 64.1% of the time it is sedated or anesthetized.

• In 29.1% of the protocols, positive reinforcement is used.

• When positive reinforcement is used, 62% of the time a liquid (water or juice) is the form of the reinforcer.

• The length of time an individual nonhuman primate is used for a research protocol at NIH ranges from one day (typically these animals are placed in the recycling program if they are not euthanized) to a lifetime, with the mean time being 9.6 months.

• 58.2% of the time the subject is euthanized at the end of the study.

• 62% of the investigators surveyed feel that the nonhuman primate's environment is "suitable". Continued - Survey Results - 1987

• 53% of the investigators surveyed feel that the nonhuman primate's environment is enriched. Many thought this enrichment was due to the experiment itself.

• The average nonhuman primate research project has 4.2 investigators working directly or indirectly with the animals.

• Animals that are chair restrained as part of the study spend a mean time of 5.7 hrs (mode =3.0 hrs) in the chair during the course of the day.

• 30.9% of the investigators chair restrain their subjects as part of the protocol.

• 16.4% of the investigators tether their subjects as part of the experimental protocol.

• 14.3% investigators keep their animals on collars and chains in the home cage. A total of 20.5% use chains to transfer animals to chairs.

• 4.5% utilize the pole and collar system to transfer animals.
• 9.1% of the investigators train their subjects to enter transport cages, so they can move them while the animals are conscious.

• The mean number of hours the nonhuman primates are worked each week for all Institutes is 14.6 hrs (ranging from 1 hr to 56 hr per week).

• 84.9% of the investigators surveyed house their adult nonhuman primates singly. Approximately 70% of the nonhuman primates at the NIH are singly housed. Of these approximately 4% are housed in isolation chambers for purposes of quarantine or infectious disease studies.

• 51.8% of the investigators currently are or would be willing to pair or group house their subjects.

• 8.9% of the animals are on special diets as part of the experimental protocol.

• 56% of the investigators surveyed try to assess the psychological well-being of their nonhuman primate subjects. Many, however, felt unskilled in their attempts and felt a "trained observer" (i.e. an individual skilled in making behavioral assessments) would be more reliable. Continued - Survey Results - 1987

• 80% of the veterinarians interviewed attempt to assess the psychological well-being of the nonhuman primates in their care.

• See Table 3 for a list of the current methods utilized by NIH investigators to measure the psychological well-being of their nonhuman primates.

• See Table 4 for a list of suggestions by investigators for environmental enrichment for nonhuman primates made by investigators at NIH.

• See Table 5 for the list of methods utilized by attending veterinarians at NIH for assessing the psychological well- being of nonhuman primates.

• See Table 6 for recommendations for housing made by the attending veterinarians. EVALUATION OF THE STATUS OF NONHUMAN PRIMATE CARE AND USE AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH -- SURVEY RESULTS - 1990

• The largest proportion of nonhuman primates studied at the NIH is the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). 63% of the investigators studying nonhuman primates at NIH use rhesus monkeys.

• 98% of the time the subject animal is removed from the home cage during the course of the experiment (64% of the time the animal is removed 1-5 times each week).

• If the animal is removed, 63% of the time it is sedated or anesthetized.

• In 50% of the protocols, positive reinforcement is used.

• When positive reinforcement is used, 32% of the time a liquid (water or juice) is the form of the reinforcer; 59% of the time food is used and 9% of the time other forms of reinforcement are utilized.

• The length of time an individual nonhuman primate is used for a research protocol at NIH ranges from one day (typically these animals are placed in the recycling program if they are not euthanized) to a lifetime, with the mean time being 3 years.

• 69% of the investigators surveyed feel that the nonhuman primate's environment is enriched. Many thought this enrichment was due to the experiment itself.

• The average nonhuman primate research project has 3.2 investigators working directly or indirectly with the animals.

• Animals that are chair restrained as part of the study spend a mean time of 3.4 hours (mode = 3.0 hours) in the chair during the course of the day. The time ranges from 1 hour to 8 hours uninterrupted.

• 27.5% of the investigators chair restrain their subjects as part of the protocol.

• 12% of the investigators tether their subjects as part of the experimental protocol.

• 6% of the investigators keep their animals on collars and chains in the home cage.

• 4% utilize the pole and collar system to transfer animals.

• 22% of the investigators transport cage train their subjects so they can move the animals while they are conscious.

• 61% of the investigators surveyed house their adult nonhuman primates singly. Approximately 78% of the nonhuman primates owned by the respondents are singly housed.

• 45.8% of the investigators who currently are not social housing their animals would be willing to pair or group house their subjects.

• 36.7% of the animals are on food controlled diets and 20.4% fluid controlled as part of the experimental protocol.

• 83% of the investigators surveyed try to assess the psychological well-being of their nonhuman primate subjects.

[Regulations & Standards]