The Veterinary Services group is responsible for the veterinary care of all nonhuman primates managed within the Center. This includes management of the preventive medicine program, treatment of spontaneous disease, surgical and clinical support for research projects, and provision of professional veterinary advice to support research.
Veterinary Services consists of veterinarians and veterinary technicians who perform:
- Routine testing for tuberculosis and the presence of various viruses, including simian betaretrovirus (SRV), simian T cell leukemia virus (STLV), and Macacine alphaherpesvirus (Herpes B virus, BV)
- Routine physical examinations and interpretation of diagnostic hematology and microbiology
- Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneously occurring conditions using standard of care veterinary diagnostic procedures or more specialized procedures
- Development of monitoring, treatment, and endpoint criteria for diseases associated with experimental protocols
- Anesthetic and surgical support for research projects
- Consultation with investigators regarding animal models, logistical considerations working with NHP, research techniques, and regulatory compliance.
Clinical Medicine
The Clinical medicine services provide professional veterinary expertise to the colony management, environmental enrichment, and research support programs regarding many aspects of primate care and use. These services include preventive medicine, clinical care, veterinary review of IACUC protocols, pregnancy evaluations, and pre- and postnatal care of dams and infants.
Surgery Services
Surgical services include providing facilities, equipment, instruments, and expertise for a wide variety of surgical procedures to ensure primate health and well-being and support research programs. All major survival surgical procedures are conducted in dedicated surgical facilities, with anesthetic support from experienced Veterinary Services personnel. A Veterinary Surgeon is available for consultation, to assist with procedures, or to perform surgery on a fee-for-service basis.