Sample Animal Record
Below are excerpts from a typical animal record. This particular record was chosen because it represents the care and feeding of the average monkey at ONPRC. The record also demonstrates the tremendous amount of care each animal receives, from daily health monitoring to proactive veterinary care, to ensure continued health. In this particular case, the monkey is a female rhesus macaque that was involved in reproductive studies, specifically pelvic floor disorders which affect women. This monkey was sacrificed for research as in some cases it is necessary that an animal be humanely put to sleep as part of the research project. However, many times, animals live out their lives at ONPRC.
Below are excerpts of the animal record with explanations for entries most commonly found in animal records. A full glossary of additional terms commonly found in animal records is available.
Full copy of the animal record in PDF
1. Animal numbers
Each animal is assigned a number, just as a hospital patient is assigned a number upon admission. While many animals are also given names by their daily caretakers, numbers are a more efficient way than names of ensuring that the right animal is receiving the right health care.
2. Rhesus Macaque
One of the most common non-human primate species involved in biomedical research is the rhesus macaque monkey. This is due to the many similarities between these animals and humans. There are also much established data on this species which allows for better translation of research findings from animals to humans.
3. Birth/death
In almost every case, animals are born at the center and live their entire lives at the center. Importing animals from other countries is very rare. At ONPRC, many monkeys are born in breeding corrals and live a healthy life, longer than that of an animal in the wild due to veterinary care and regular care and feeding. While some animals are sacrificed as part of a research protocol, as in this case, this happens to a small percentage of animals at the center. On average, animals at the center live for approximately 20 years.
4. Pathology
Whether an animal dies from natural causes or as part of a research project as in this case, each and every animal receives a post mortem examination (or necropsy). This is done to ensure that there are no infectious disease outbreaks or parasites present that pose a danger to other animals. This also adds to the body of knowledge that helps improve primate health for animals in captivity.
5. Tuberculosis testing
Throughout the records you will see many references to tuberculosis (TB) testing. This is because TB poses a large threat to monkeys, so much effort is placed into ensuring that both animals and employees are TB free. A single case could affect hundreds of animals.
6. Pool assignments
Pool assignments do not refer to where an animal lives, but rather what the animal does at the center. For instance in this case, the animal was in the breeding colony at ONPRC before it was enrolled in a reproductive research project.
7. Breeders
A breeder monkey means that the animal lives in an outdoor group, in many cases much larger than any zoo enclosure, where it lives and breeds with other monkeys. The majority of animals at ONPRC live outdoors.
8. IACUC
IACUC stands for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. These committees are required by the federal Animal Welfare Act and are made up of researchers, animal care experts, veterinarians and a member of the public. IACUCs must approve all research protocols which involve animals prior to their initiation and annually thereafter. Frequently, the IACUC asks for more information or changes to a study plan to ensure the best animal care possible. In addition, if a protocol is changed by a scientist, IACUC approval is required.
9. Transfers
Animals are frequently transferred within the center. Transfers to other primate centers are much less common but can occur when animals are uniquely qualified for a research project. Sometimes animals are transferred between units of the center for research reasons. Other times animals are transferred for the animal's well-being.
10. Cages
While most animals live outdoors at the primate center, almost all of the animals live with at least one other monkey. This means that two or more animals share a large cage (two cages joined together) where they can groom each other, an important behavior for monkeys. However in some cases, animals may need to live in cages without partners. For instance, if the animal is outfitted with a catheter (a small vest connected to an IV line) the animal must live singly for safety reasons. In other cases, animals are not compatible with others and live in single cages. However, in no cases are animals allowed to live in isolation. All animals live in groups in a room and must be in direct sight of other animals allowing for communication between the animals.
11. Medical DX
This entry refers to any health diagnosis or care the animal receives. In this case, the notation refers to a body health exam (like a human physical) where the animal was examined, found to have some inflammation and given antibiotics (Polysporin) which caused the inflammation to subside.
12. Body as a whole
This refers to a full body exam, like a human physical.
13. Physical exams
Physical exams, like a human physical, are common to ensure that animals are healthy. In this case, minor inflammation was treated with a topical antibiotic.
14. Polymoxin B+ Bacitracin
These are antibiotics that are placed on the skin and used for both humans and animals to prevent or treat infection.
15. Baytril
Baytril is an oral antibiotic. In this case, the animal was given the drug because an animal it was living with was ill. Therefore, this monkey was proactively given the drug to try and ensure that the animal would remain healthy.
16. Alopecia
Alopecia means baldness or hair loss. This occurs in both humans and animals. In some cases, a monkey may overgroom, like family pets often do, resulting in patches of thinning hair.
17. Tiletamine and Zolazepam
Tiletamine is an anesthetic chemically related to ketamine. Like ketamine, it is often used to sedate an animal. Zolazepam is used to reduce stress and is frequently used in combination with Tiletamine.
18. Specimen collection
Occasionally a specimen, such as a swab of saliva or a blood sample, is taken to check on the health of an animal or as part of a research study. A new program at the center allows for animals to be trained to present an arm for a blood sample and rewarded with a treat. This limits stress for the animal.
19. Dental care
Unlike animals in the wild, monkeys at ONPRC receive dental care. During their dental work, the animals are given a sedative so that they can remain calm.
20. Ketamine
Most medical records will mention the use of ketamine at some point during an animal's lifetime. Ketamine is an anesthetic for human and veterinary use. Since it suppresses breathing much less than most other available anesthetics, ketamine is still used in human medicine as an anesthetic for victims with unknown medical history. In veterinary medicine, ketamine is often used for its anesthetic effects on cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, and other small animals. For instance, a veterinarian may prescribe ketamine to sedate a monkey during a physical exam.
21. Corrals
Corrals are large (1 or 2 acre), outdoor enclosures that have a ground cover of grass and contain several huts as well as play structures. The monkeys in the corrals live in large groups and are able to engage in many normal monkey behaviors such as grooming and foraging.
22. Hypothermia
Animals that live in the outdoor corrals are monitored daily. In this case, the animal, which was pregnant at the time, was brought inside in the month of March and treated for issues related to problems delivering her baby and cold weather. In the wild, this animal would have likely died. However, at the primate center, the animal received care and survived, however the offspring could not be saved.
23. Pitocin
Pitocin is a medication commonly used to induce contractions of the uterus. It is used to induce labor and to help cause the uterus to shrink down to a pre-pregnant size after delivery of an infant.
24. Acidosis
Acidosis is an increased acidity of blood plasma. This is something that can occur due to stress, in this case, the birth of an infant monkey.
25. Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is an analgesic (pain reliever). In this case, it was provided to an animal giving birth.
26. Stool samples
Unlike human health records, animal care records frequently note stool sample results. This is the case because like weight, stool samples can provide a lot of information about the general health of an animal, especially given the fact that unlike humans, an animal cannot communicate regarding how it feels on a particular day.
27. Tuberculin
Tuberculin refers to a skin test for tuberculosis (TB). The test is used in both humans and animals. The use of Tuberculin is frequently noted in animal records due to the great danger that TB poses to animals. A single case of TB could affect hundreds of animals. Therefore, both humans and animals at the center receive regular TB tests.
28. Pyrantel pamoate
This is a parasite medication given to animals to proactively prevent internal parasites, much like the family dog is given heartworm medication.
29. Auscultation with stethoscope
This means that the animal's heart was listened to with a stethoscope.
30. Ivermectin
Ivermectin is a parasite medication given to most animals to proactively prevent lung mites, much like the family dog is given heartworm medication.
31. Implants
Implants often refer to reproductive studies where a small pump is implanted in an animal increase hormone levels, much like hormone therapy treatment in humans. Implanting a small pump keeps the animal from having to wear a catheter and keeps them from being restricted in any way.
32. Oophorectomy (spaying)
An oophorectomy (or ovariectomy) is the surgical removal of the ovaries. In the case of pets, this is also called spaying. Removal of ovaries causes hormonal changes and symptoms equivalent to menopause. This is why animals are sometimes spayed as part of a menopause study.
33. Surgery
Animals may receive surgery for health reasons at the center. Some research projects, in this case a reproductive study, may also involve surgery. In many cases, ONPRC has developed minimally-invasive or endoscopic surgical methods. These procedures take place in specialized surgical rooms using the same technologies that are used in human surgeries. In fact, animals receive equal or greater amounts of pain care than humans because of their inability to communicate their wishes.
34. BAR
BAR if a common notation that stands for "bright, alert and responsive." In other words, the animal is normal. In this case, there were several BAR notes following surgery.
35. Pentobarbitol sodium
Pentobarbitol sodium is commonly used for veterinary euthanasia. It is given as an injection and is very humane. In this, case, it was given to the animal as part of the research protocol. Pentobarbital has also been used for physician-assisted suicide in humans in the past because it is considered humane.
36. Virology/serology
Animals at ONPRC are regularly tested for a variety of illnesses to ensure the continued health of the animal and other animals that live with it. This page which exists in all animal records, provides the details of that health monitoring.
37. Herpesvirus
As in humans, monkeys can be lifelong carriers of a herpesvirus similar to the virus that causes cold sores in humans. This particular virus (herpes B or Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1) does not generally pose much risk to the health of the monkeys but can be very serious in humans. Therefore, testing is frequently conducted to ensure staff safety and herpes tests are frequently noted in animal records.
38. Stool samples
While it is not frequently found in this animal record, diarrhea is relatively common in nonhuman primates and one of the reasons why stool samples are frequently noted in records. Diarrhea is frequently noted in zoos and primate centers. It is likely also very common in the wild given the fact that wild animals do not always have access to clean water. The frequency of diarrhea in monkeys is one reason why our animals are proactively given parasite medications to prevent illness.
39. Shigellosis/shigella
Shigellosis is caused by the bacteria Shigella. Shigella and other bacteria can cause diarrhea. Some of these bacteria tend to be a larger problem in very heavy rain seasons such as during the Oregon floods of 1996. In this record, the animal was tested for shigella for health and safety reasons.
40. Reproductive history
This page in animal care records may note births or menstrual cycles for female monkeys. In this case, a vaginal birth occurred in 1999 and several menstrual cycles were noted in 2000 when the animal lived indoors. Note: The menstrual cycles for a monkey living outdoors would not be tracked. Therefore, many reports may be blank.
41. Weight
Weight is something closely tracked in many records. It is an overall indication of the animal's health.
42. Tissues
Following death and a pathology examination, the animal's tissues may be used for a variety of studies. This page demonstrates how one animal can provide data for numerous health studies after it is sacrificed.
43. Environmental and social enhancement diagnosis
While information may be noted on some records in this category, others will not. This is due to the changing nature of recordkeeping over the years. For instance, at times during the center's history, records tracked every single toy that animals were given. Also, animals that behave abnormally are typically tracked throughout life and that information would be located here, even if the abnormal behavior appears only once. Animal rights groups often allege that many animals in captivity self-bite or frequently show other certain abnormal behaviors. However, in reality these actions, which are also found in humans, are rare in our monkey population.
