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 ?
Top Related