Better science through primate participation

Captive animals trained to cooperate with routine medical procedures may experience less aggression and anxiety than those forced to comply through the use of restraints. Therefore, data collected from nonhuman primates that are trained to participate voluntarily in husbandry, veterinary, and research procedures may be more relevant and of greater scientific value. Schapiro and colleagues present the results of a series of studies that examined the effects of positive reinforcement training on the performance by chimpanzees of a variety of biomedically relevant behaviors. Likewise, Videan and colleagues used positive reinforcement training to teach captive chimpanzees to present a body part for anesthetic injection. See pages 37 and 43

Are your monkeys fit or fat?

Body condition scoring, a subjective, semiquantitative method of assessing body fat and muscle, has been used to judge the overall health, nutrition, and performance in species including sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, cats, and mice. Clingerman and Summers present a framework for scoring fatness and muscularity in nonhuman primates without special equipment and in a way that could easily be accomplished during a routine physical examination. See page 31

Protect yourself with less

Individuals working with nonhuman primates must wear facial personal protective equipment to protect themselves from zoonotic hazards related to splash exposures. In response to complaints from animal caretakers about uncomfortable equipment, Cooper and colleagues evaluated the level of protection offered by several combinations of safety glasses, face shields, and surgical masks and determined that less restrictive gear can be worn without compromising safety. See page 49