Primates in Research

Timo Nevalainen

University of Eastern Finland

MONKEY AROUND ??

Definition of Primates

Large group of about 200 species

Definition necessitates the use of complicated technical terms, such as: Opposite grip in either hands of feet or

both Testes in scrotum Two mammary glands Closed orbital circle

Taxonomy

P ros im ii

C eboideaN ew W orld Monkeys

C ercopithecoideaO ld W orld M onkeys

H om inoideaA pes

A nthropoideaP rim ates proper

P R IM A T AP rim ates

Prosimii

Primitive primates Questionable whether primates at all

Look like squirrel or fox

Many are considered endangered

Prosimii

Tree shrew (Tupaia glis) Native of Far East Size and looks like a rat Daylight animal Gestation 45-50 days Two pups born Difficult to house in

laboratory

Other Prosimii Species

Galago senegalensis (Bushbaby) Looks of a squirrel Occasional research

use

Loris tardigratus Nocturnal - huge

eyes

New World Monkeys (Ceboidea)

Wide and low nose

36 teeth

Some have prehensile tail

New World Monkeys (Ceboidea)

Squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) Considered pest

animal in South America

Most common NWM in research

About 800 g

New World Monkeys (Ceboidea)

Owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) Weighs less than a

kilo Nocturnal - large

eyes Requires high temp

and humidity

New World Monkeys (Ceboidea)

Common marmoset (Callitrix jacchus) About half a kilo Only species among

primates proper with twins

First primate commonly raised in laboratory

New World Monkeys (Ceboidea)

Spider monkey (Ateles) Larger than

previous sp. (7-15 kg)

Prehensile tail Bumpy abdomen,

spidery hands and feet

Old World Monkeys Cercopithecoidea

Narrow nose

32 teeth

Often cheek pouches

If there´s a tail, it´s never prehensile

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvana) Only monkey

species native to Europe

Presence of the British Commonwealth and the species on the rocks of Gibraltar

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) Standard monkey of the Pharmacopeias Monkey crisis Most widely used OWM Discovery of the rhesus-factor

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

Stumptail (Macaca arctoides or speciosa) Calm and friendly Weight 5-15 kg Difficult to get

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

Irus macaque (Macaca irus) Substitute for Rhesus

and stumptail Rough character Same size as

previous two

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

African green (Cercopithecus ethiops) Smaller than

macaques Kidney donor Marburg disease

Old World MonkeysCercopithecoidea

Baboons (Papio sp.) Rarely used in

research Remember Christian

Barnard ? Large and strong;

handling difficult

Apes (Hominoidea)

Orangutang

Apes (Hominoidea)

Gibbon

Gorilla

Chimpanzee

Apes (Hominoidea)

Did we forget one of the hominoids ?

An important species ?

Humans Look around

Primate Diseases

Tuberculosis Draining lymph

nodes Tuberculin testing Tissue changes Method of tb testing

in monkeys

Primate Diseases

Herpes B Nodules on lips or

mouth Fatal for humans

Human herpes The other way

around to Herpes B

Primate Diseases

Herpes T Fatal in owl monkey Mucosal changes in

tamarins

Primate Diseases

Pox virus diseases for most species Monkey pox Small box Ecromelia in mice Vaccination with

vaccinia-virus

Primate Biology and HousingSex skin Follows the

estrus/menstrual cycle

Gestation Species dependent 120

days (tamarins) 270 days (orang)

Number of offsprings Single, except marmosets

Primate Biology and Care

Primates require external source of vitamin C.

New World Monkeys cannot utilize vitamin D2

Primate Biology and CareCages Special design with

squeeze-back

Gang cages Prone for fighting &

beating each other Enrichment

Handling Protective measures and

handling techniques

Research Techniques

Gastric tubing Via nose

IM-injection Much like humans Squeeze-back used to immobilize them

IV-injection Superficial veins on antebrachium

Blood samples Femoral triangle CDt

Research Use

Research community waits for vaccine or therapeutic drug for AIDS Need for monkeys ?

New Directive Are F2 animals required?

Working Safely with Nonhuman Primates

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/TrainingVideos.htm#primate

Pop Quiz

Which animals, other than primates, require external source of vitamin C ?

Which group of primates has prehensile tail ?