The Veterinary Services group is responsible for the veterinary care of all nonhuman primates managed within the Center. This includes management of spontaneous disease, and provision of professional veterinary advice and services to support research projects.
The veterinary medicine and surgery staff provide many routine services, including:
- 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) as part of the Preventative Medicine Program
- Routine physical examinations and analysis of blood and serum biochemistry
- 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
- 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 pregnancy evaluations, surgical interventions, 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. The facilities are designed and equipped to meet the requirements or recommendations of the Federal Animal Welfare Regulations (CFR Title 9, Subchapter A), the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), and have been reviewed and evaluated by AAALAC International.