Harmonisation of welfare indicators for macaques and marmosets used or bred for research.

Mark J Prescott,Melissa A Truelove,Matthew C Leach

doi:10.12688/f1000research.109380.1

Abstract

Background: Accurate assessment of the welfare of non-human primates (NHPs) used and bred for scientific purposes is essential for effective implementation of obligations to optimise their well-being, for validation of refinement techniques and novel welfare indicators, and for ensuring the highest quality data is obtained from these animals. Despite the importance of welfare assessment in NHP research, there is little consensus on what should be measured. Greater harmonisation of welfare indicators between facilities would enable greater collaboration and data sharing to address welfare-related questions in the management and use of NHPs. Methods: A Delphi consultation was used to survey attendees of the 2019 NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting (73 respondents) to build consensus on which welfare indicators for macaques and marmosets are reliable, valid, and practicable, and how these can be measured. Results: Self-harm behaviour, social enrichment, cage dimensions, body weight, a health monitoring programme, appetite, staff training, and positive reinforcement training were considered valid, reliable, and practicable indicators for macaques (≥70% consensus) within a hypothetical scenario context involving 500 animals. Indicators ranked important for assessing marmoset welfare were body weight, NHP induced and environmentally induced injuries, cage furniture, huddled posture, mortality, blood in excreta, and physical enrichment. Participants working with macaques in infectious disease and breeding identified a greater range of indicators as valid and reliable than did those working in neuroscience and toxicology, where animal-based indicators were considered the most important. The findings for macaques were compared with a previous Delphi consultation, and the expert-defined consensus from the two surveys used to develop a prototype protocol for assessing macaque welfare in research settings. Conclusions: Together the Delphi results and proto-protocol enable those working with research NHPs to more effectively assess the welfare of the animals in their care and to collaborate to advance refinement of NHP management and use.

Highlights

An estimated 100,000 non-human primates (NHPs) are used annually in biomedical research and testing, with a far larger number housed in breeding facilities (Carlsson et al, 2004; Lankau et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2014; Vermeire et al, 2017; Grimm, 2018)
Online survey software from Qualtrics was used to survey the delegates of the NC3Rs Primate Welfare Meeting (8 November 2019, London) about their views on welfare indices for macaques and marmosets, as part of a hybridised Delphi consultation process
We have identified context appropriate indicators that are valid, reliable, and practicable for assessing the welfare of macaques and marmosets bred and used for research, including in toxicology, neuroscience, and infectious disease, potentially benefiting far in excess of 100,000 NHPs used globally per year by improving welfare assessment, minimisation of harm and evaluation of the impact of refinement techniques

Summary

Introduction

An estimated 100,000 non-human primates (NHPs) are used annually in biomedical research and testing, with a far larger number housed in breeding facilities (Carlsson et al, 2004; Lankau et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2014; Vermeire et al, 2017; Grimm, 2018). Accurate assessment of the welfare of these animals is essential for fulfilling ethical and legal obligations to minimise any harm caused by scientific or veterinary procedures, and for the effective implementation of refinement techniques such as analgesia and humane endpoints (Rennie & Buchanan-Smith, 2006; Jennings & Prescott, 2009; Hawkins et al, 2011; Descovich et al, 2019) It is important for evaluating enhancements to animal management aimed at promoting positive welfare states and good psychological well-being, such as environmental enrichment and training for cooperation with husbandry (Chamove, 1989; Segal, 1989; Bassett et al, 2003; Lutz & Novak, 2005; Buchanan-Smith et al, 2005; Buchanan-Smith, 2010a; Coleman & Maier, 2010; Coleman & Novak, 2017). Indicators ranked important for assessing marmoset welfare were body weight, NHP induced and environmentally induced injuries, cage furniture, huddled posture, mortality, blood in excreta, and physical enrichment

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