STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES DIVISION OF COMPARATIVE MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SOP#: 613.6 Date Issued: 10/98 Date Revised: 04/12 Page 1of 5 TITLE: SCOPE: RESPONSIBILITY: PURPOSE: Environmental Enhancement to Promote the Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates Personnel with Regular Nonhuman Primate Contact Facility Manager, Animal Care and Research Staff To Outline Circumstances and Procedures of Environmental Enhancement in Nonhuman Primates in Accordance with 9CFR I. PURPOSE 1. The purpose of this procedure is to describe the program for implementing the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, the USDA s 9Code of Federal Regulations, and the NRC's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals for environmental enhancement to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates (NHPs). II. RESPONSIBILITY 1. The veterinarians oversee all aspects of the NHP enrichment program, and are assisted by all program staff and research staff. 2. Designated Facility Manager and Veterinarians are responsible for training and supervising personnel regarding the proper implementation of this SOP. 3. Designated and appropriately trained animal care staff is responsible for the realization of this program. 4. It is the responsibility of personnel working with NHPs to be familiar with these procedures. III. PROCEDURES Background Information 1. Environmental enhancement is a key feature to ensure the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates (NHPs). 2. The following enhancement procedures have been developed to provide for the social needs of NHP and enrichment of the physical environment in order to encourage and enable expression of beneficial behaviors. 3. This plan will be in accordance with the currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate professional journals 1, 2, 3, 4 or reference guides 5, 6, and as
Page 2 of 5 directed by the attending veterinarian. This plan will be made available to APHIS upon request and to officials of any pertinent funding agency. Social Grouping 1. All NHPs will be evaluated for compatibility for pair-housing (see SOP #617). 2. Pair-housing will be the default housing arrangement. 3. Compatibility of nonhuman primates will be determined in accordance with generally accepted professional practices and actual observations, as directed by the attending veterinarian, to ensure that the NHPs are in fact compatible. 4. Compatibility will be established using methodologies delineated in referenced materials. Specifically, the Sample Pair Housing SOP Macaques delineated in the Macaques Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates. Macaques 2, NIH Pub No. 05-5744, will be used to initiate the process of compatibility determination. 5. All social grouping plans and endeavors will be directed by the attending veterinarian. 6. Individually housed NHPs that have received IACUC-approved exemption from pairhousing must be able to see and hear NHPs of their own or compatible species, unless the attending veterinarian determines that it would endanger their health, safety, or well-being. Environmental Enrichment 1. The physical environment of all NHP primary enclosures will be enriched by providing means of expressing non-injurious species-typical activities. 2. Each animal not on a restricted diet will be given a variety of food treats at least three times a week. a. Fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, raisins, and popcorn will be offered. b. Whenever possible, food treats will be placed within toys or devices to provide a means of task-oriented manipulation and interaction with their environment. 3. Each animal will have a minimum of one enrichment device, either suspended on the outside of the cage or on the floor inside the cage. Cage complexities may include the following: a. Toys may consist of, but are not limited to, Kong, Plaque Attacker, Nylabone, Booda Velvet, Boomer balls, rawhide, puzzle feeders, mirrors, and used cardboard tubing. b. Devices suitable for hanging inside cage could include sterilized tree limbs, Monkey Shine Mirrors on chains, or ropes with or without rings and/or
Page 3 of 5 rattles. c. Devices that can be placed on the outside of the cage include tug-a-toy or rope, artificial turf foraging board or box, crumble disk holders, and fleece grooming boards. 4. Auditory and visual stimulation will be provided via radio or television. A timer will operate these devices and will turn them off at night. Volume levels will be kept as low as possible to achieve enrichment, and radio stations will be tuned to "soothing" music. 5. Enrichment devices will be changed on a rotating basis at least every two weeks when cage changes occur. If possible, the exchange of toys or other enrichment devices will be more frequent to avoid boredom of the animals. The type of toy will be changed on a rotating basis, as determined by the attending veterinarian, in conjunction with laboratory and care staff. 6. During cage changes, toys will be removed in the cagewash area and sanitized. Sanitized toys will be placed in storage if they are in good condition and may be provided to another animal. New toys that are commercially procured are also kept in storage until their utilization. Toys found outside of the cage will be brought to the cage wash area for sanitization and re-entry into a cage rack. 7. If a device's physical integrity is questioned, use is discontinued immediately. All devices (excluding artificial turf boards and fleece boards) are to be disposed of if they are severely chewed, contain sharp edges, or are broken. Artificial turf boards and fleece boards may be repaired, if possible. 8. Enrichment devices are not to leave the facility. 9. Human interaction with NHPs will take place two to four times per day and should be as non-disruptive to the animal as possible, with a focus on the safety of both the human individual and the animal. This interaction can involve talking with a soft, gentle voice and expression of certain noises (e.g., lip smacking). Caretakers should never reach into the cage or place a finger between the bars of the cage. Touch the animal only if it indicates it will accept the tactile contact. NHPs that are aggressive, dominant, or fearful should not receive close human-animal interaction. To minimize the risk of being grabbed by the animal, contact should only occur on the dorsal surface of the animal s hand or arm. Never come close to the face. The animal must extend its arm, leg or rump to the front or outside of the cage. Avoid any abrupt movements or loud noises. Make sure that nobody will enter the room unexpectedly. Always approach the cage slowly and avoid staring into the animal s eyes since this is interpreted as a dominant, aggressive act. 10. An NHP Room Enrichment Log (CMDC #190) will be kept by the caregiver that includes a daily entry summarizing the environmental enrichments (e.g., food treats, devices, auditory and visual stimulation, and human interactions) provided to all animals in a housing room. Individual animal reactions (if any) to the enrichment(s)
Page 4 of 5 will be noted in a separate NHP Individual Enrichment Log (CMDC #191) for each animal. Frequency and types of interactions made by technicians will be described. Furthermore, entries requiring more information and/or a more detailed description should be made in individual primate records, noting any special or unique environmental enhancements provided and the animal s reaction to them. Especially adverse reactions to food or inanimate objects should be noted in the individual medical record. Effects of various enrichment devices will undergo review, assessment, and/or evaluation by the attending veterinarian, at least semi-annually, for efficacy and safety. Exemptions 1. The plan provides the following exceptions to pair-housing: a. If a nonhuman primate exhibits vicious or overly aggressive behavior, or is debilitated as a result of age or other conditions (e.g., arthritis), it will be housed separately. b. NHPs that have, or are suspected of having, a contagious disease will be isolated from healthy animals in the colony, as directed by the attending veterinarian. c. NHPs will not be housed with other species of primates or animals unless they are compatible, do not prevent access to food, water, or shelter by individual animals, and are known to not be hazardous to the health and wellbeing of other animals. d. The basis of the exemption will be documented and, if not included in an IACUC-approved protocol, must be reviewed at appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC. 2. The plan provides for the following exceptions to environmental enrichment: a. The attending veterinarian may exempt an individual nonhuman primate from participation in the environmental enhancement plan because of its health or condition, or in consideration of its well-being. The basis of the exemption will be recorded by the attending veterinarian for each exempted NHP. Unless the basis for the exemption is a permanent condition, the exemption will be reviewed at least every 30 days by the attending veterinarian. b. The IACUC may exempt an individual nonhuman primate from participation in some or all of the otherwise required environmental enhancement plans for scientific reasons set forth in the IACUC-approved research proposal. The basis of the exemption will be documented in the approved protocol and must be reviewed at appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC but not less than annually. c. Records of any exemptions will be maintained and will be made available to USDA officials or officials of any pertinent funding agency upon request. Special considerations 1. Certain nonhuman primates must be provided special attention regarding enhancement of their environment, based on the needs of the individual species and
Page 5 of 5 in accordance with the instructions of the attending veterinarian. NHPs requiring special attention include the following: a. Infants and young juveniles b. Those that show signs of being in psychological distress through behavior (e.g., self-injury) or appearance (e.g., self-induced alopecia); c. Those used in research for which the IACUC-approved protocol requires restricted activity; d. Individually housed NHPs that are unable to see and hear individuals of their own or compatible species; e. Animals in which restraint devices are used. Note: Nonhuman primates will not be maintained in restraint devices unless required for health reasons as determined by the attending veterinarian, or by a research proposal approved by the IACUC. Maintenance under such restraint will be for the shortest period possible. In instances where long-term (more than 12 hours) restraint is required, the NHP will be provided the opportunity daily for unrestrained activity for at least one continuous hour during the period of restraint, unless continuous restraint is required by the research proposal approved by the IACUC. IV. References 1 Abney, D.M. and J.L. Weed (2006). Methods for successfully pair housing adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 68(Suppl. 1): 59. ISSN: 0275-2565. 2 Bayne, Kathryn, Editor (2005). Macaques Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates. Macaques, NIH Pub No. 05-5744, Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. 3 Doyle, L.A., K.C. Baker, and L.D. Cox (2008). Physiological and behavioral effects of social introduction on adult male rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 70(6): 542-550. 4 West, A., S. Leland, M. Collins, T. Welty, W. Wagner, and J. Erwin (2009). Pairformation in laboratory rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): a retrospective assessment in a compatibility testing procedure. American Journal of Primatology 71(Suppl 1): 41. 5 The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates. Bernstein, IS, Chair, Committee on Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. 1998. 6 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2011. Approved: Date: