Control of losses in freshly‐imported laboratory primates during the acclimatization period

Observation of large numbers of freshly‐trapped rhesus and crab‐eating macaques transported by air from Asia to an Australian laboratory has shown that severe losses may occur during the first few weeks following importation and that it is up to 12 weeks before the animals become properly acclimatized to the new environment. Deaths which occur during this period are primarily due to enteric and/or respiratory tract bacterial pathogens. In addition, endoparasitic infestations are almost invariably present; and viral infections may enhance the virulence of other pathogens. Measures which have been taken to reduce losses during the period of stabilization involve good husbandry, the treatment of parasites, and the prophylactic use of antibiotics. However, greatest success has been achieved by partly acclimatizing monkeys to captivity in the country of origin, during which period they are treated for intestinal helminths. Only robust, adolescent animals are selected for dispatch to Australia by air in small consignments

Acclimatization · Animal husbandry · Biology · Captivity · Period (music) · Veterinary medicine · Zoology · Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies · Ecology · Medicine · Physiology · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation