Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
provision of sprinkler systems, or access to bodies of water
for high temperatures. Where low temperatures occur,
shelter from the elements must be provided. If this is not
adequate for the age groups or species involved, supple-
mental heat sources such as heated surfaces, nest boxes, or
enclosures should be provided.
Specific situations may also require changes in the
ambient temperature for individual animals. For example,
animals recovering from surgery may require supplemental
heat sources until they can adequately thermoregulate.
For most species a wide range of humidity is acceptable
biomedical research, it is important to be aware of the
differences in nutritional requirements. Diets should be
designed to meet the needs of the different species in the
facility. Certain vitamin requirements vary between
species, and some groups require a high fiber level in their
diet. Details on nutrient requirements of the various species
are available elsewhere in this topic.
Consistent feeding practices are an essential component
of good husbandry. The quantity of food, placement within
the enclosure, and time of feeding all contribute to a quality
feeding program. In individual cages, feed boxes should be
used whereas in social housing several feed sites should be
used to ensure that adequate feed is available to all animals
in the group. In outdoor enclosures, feed should be pro-
tected from the elements to preserve nutritive quality and
prevent decomposition. In most situations animals should
be fed at least twice daily at regular intervals to minimize
digestive problems such as acute gastric dilatation
(
Campanile et al., 2007
). Conditioning animals to a regular
feeding schedule may also prove useful at a later date to
provide medication or as part of an experimental protocol.
In general, commercial diets provide all of the nutrient
requirements for most species. Dietary supplements may be
used to stimulate appetites or as part of an enrichment or
training program to stimulate natural species-specific
behavior. The animal care staff may also enjoy the
supplementation process and it can enhance the relation-
ships between the staff and the animals. However, care
must be exercised in the use of supplements to avoid
overeating preferred food items at
(30
70%). Some species such as marmosets and tamarins
require a level of humidity of at least 50%. Indoor housing
should control the humidity levels whereas the ambient
humidity should be considered when designing outdoor
facilities. Conditions of low or high humidity may exac-
erbate problems associated with temperature extremes.
In indoor facilities a 12-hour light and 12-hour dark
cycle is generally used to provide illumination sufficient to
allow normal biological and physiological responses of
most species of NHPs (
ILAR, 2010
). Facilities housing
Aotus sp. or other nocturnal species may choose to provide
a reverse light cycle. Red lighting during the dark phase
(daytime) provides illumination for husbandry practices
which then coincide with the active phase of the animal.
White light provided at night encourages the normal resting
phase for these animals to coincide with the quiet time in
the facility. Outdoor lighting cannot be controlled and will
have an effect on breeding and other physiological cycles.
The spectrum and intensity of light may have an effect on
the biology of NHPs; however, there are no conclusive
studies available at this time. The spectrum and intensity
suitable for humans will probably be suitable for most NHP
species. Lighting should be adequate for routine inspection
and husbandry practices and should be uniformly distrib-
uted within the room.
Loud or sudden noises may be stressful to different
species of NHPs in a facility (
ILAR, 2010
). Personnel
working around the animals should be educated to mini-
mize unnecessary noise to help reduce unnecessary stress.
Bedding should be from a quality source to minimize the
potential for contamination which may have a profound
effect on the animals' health and/or research results.
Common bedding contaminants include biological and
chemical agents.
e
the expense of
a balanced diet.
DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
Adequate training of personnel, strict quarantine proce-
dures, and good animal husbandry are all essential
components of a comprehensive preventive medicine
program and can help reduce the incidence of disease and
introduction of new diseases. However, naturally occurring
infectious, degenerative, and neoplastic disease processes
may still affect colony animals. As such, adequate disease
surveillance within established colonies is essential
to
ensure the overall health of the colony.
Daily Health Observations
A good disease surveillance program begins with daily
health observations of all colony animals. Animal care
staff, veterinary technical staff, and veterinarians all
contribute to this program.
Animal care staff is the “first line of defense” and their
detection of early signs of disease is crucial to a good
preventive medicine program. Animal care staff interact
with animals on a daily basis and as familiarity grows
Nutrition and Feeding
Nutrition is covered in depth in a previous chapter. The
Animal Welfare Act 1986
requires that feed be provided
which is wholesome, palatable, and of sufficient quantity
and nutritive value to meet the normal daily requirements
for the condition and size of the NHP (
ILAR, 2010
).
Considering the wide variety of NHPs that are used in
