Animal Care and Use Program
Policy
Macaque Infant Care and Housing
Version
Date Effective: DRAFT
Research Integrity Office
IACUC@ohsu.edu
WestCampusiacuc@ohsu.edu
CWC office: 503.494.8408
WC office:503.690.5289
503.629.4139
Background: Macaque infants unable to be cared for by their own dam require special nursing care and
housing. When circumstances preclude dams from caring for their own infants, foster dams may be
utilized or infants may be hand reared as necessary.
Scope: This policy applies to macaque infants less than 6 months of age housed on OHSU West
Campus (ONPRC).
Policy: ONPRC always attempts to encourage the birth dam to care for the infant unless otherwise
dictated by approved IACUC protocol.
Procedure
I.
In situations where the birth dam is not available to care for the infant, lactating dams are
preferentially chosen as fosters if available and acceptable.
II. When a lactating dam is unavailable, trained non-lactating fosters may be used. In these cases,
infants are trained to self-feed from bottles on the dam’s cage.
III. When no foster dams are available, or if required by protocol and approved by the IACUC,
orphaned infants may be hand-reared. Hand-reared infants are paired with another appropriate
animal at the earliest opportunity.
IV. Infants must be housed in incubators when not with a dam to ensure appropriate
thermoregulation and safety. Incubators provide important thermal support and a safe
environment for neonates, and are considered temporary housing until such time as an infant can
adequately thermoregulate on its own and appropriately navigate standard caging. The smaller
size, solid flooring, and warm, padded environment provide significant benefits to abandoned
infants who would otherwise be exclusively carried by their dams at this stage of life.
V. Infants are gradually weaned to a cage by 8 weeks of age unless otherwise indicated by a
veterinarian for clinical care reasons.
VI. Incubators housing infants for more than 12 hours are kept in areas specifically identified for
infant care (e.g. the hospital or the nurseries) and are cared for by staff trained for infant specific
procedures.
VII. Macaques on research protocols involving neonates raised on birth dams must have processes
for fostering options outlined in the protocol. Scientific justification is required for infants removed
from the birth dam for hand rearing, or for not utilizing any available foster dam.
1
VIII. All procedures associated with this process are covered by ONPRC SOPs. Personnel involved in
caring for infants and pairing infants with dams receive specific training as part of the Foster Care
Program and are qualified as level 1, 2, or 3 representing different skill levels according to Foster
Team training documents. Research Personnel may be trained by Foster Team members where
appropriate or necessary.
Definitions:
Birth Dam: The female macaque that was pregnant with the infant.
Lactating Foster Dam: A macaque that has recently delivered an infant and is available to foster an
orphaned infant.
Non-lactating Foster Dam: A trained macaque that has been identified as having proven excellent
maternal skills as a potential foster parent for an orphaned infant.
Foster Team Member: Personnel who play a role in caring for infants, providing feeding, husbandry, or
pairing. Foster Team Members are trained by the Foster Team Leads.
Foster Team Leads: A small group of highly skilled individuals from the Clinical Medicine Unit, Research,
Facilities, and Operations Unit, Behavioral Services Unit, and the Research, Education and Training Unit
responsible for training Foster Team Members and for determining, in consultation with the veterinarians,
appropriate care processes for infants both generally and on a case by case basis.
Authority:
The US Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing,
Research and Training states: “VII. The living conditions of animals should be appropriate for their
species and contribute to their health and comfort. … the housing, feeding, and care of all animals used
for biomedical purposes must be directed by a veterinarian…”
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states: “All animals should be housed under
conditions that provide sufficient space as well as supplementary structures and resources required to
meet physical, physiologic, and behavioral needs. … Social animals should be housed in stable pairs or
groups of compatible individuals unless they must be housed alone for experimental reasons…”
“Important considerations for determining space needs include the age and sex of the animals, … and
any special needs they may have…”
Animal Welfare Act section 3.81 “Environment Enhancement to promote Psychological Well-Being”
section (c) Special Considerations States: “Certain nonhuman primates must be provided special
attention regarding enhancement of their environment, based on the needs of the individual species and
in accordance with the instructions of the attending veterinarian. Nonhuman primates requiring special
attention are the following: (1) Infants and young juveniles…”
References:
GL-077-00 Introduction of Re-Introduction of Infant Macaques to Dams
GL-070-00 Feeding and Housing of Infant Macaques
GL-001-03 Accessing Infant Macaques on Mothers
GL-020 Cleaning Infant Cages
VC-033-00 SOP for Infant Care and Medication in the Colony Hospital
2